Fastener Choices
Type
For wood structural panels, select from common wire nails or box nails; this choice affects C&C nail withdrawal design only. For gypsum wallboard, select from drywall screws or cooler/GWB nails. This choice affects shear design. For all other materials, there is only one type of fastener that can be used.
Ring shank nails
This option is available for non-shearwalls only, as SDPWS Table 4.3A Note 9 specifies the use of smooth-shank nails only. Selecting this option allows you to take advantage of superior nail withdrawal capacity of ring-shank nails for C&C wind loading for exterior walls not designated as shear-resisting walls.
Size
Nail sizes are listed in pennyweight; for wood structural panels 6d (2" length), 8d (2.5"), 10d (3"), and 12d (3.25") are available. Other fastener specifications are listed for gypsum wallboard and other gypsum-based materials.
Fastener size be unknown for those materials that have more than one choice. Unknown values affect wind C&C nail withdrawal resistance and wood structural panel shear capacity for certain thicknesses. SDPWS allows structural panels to be applied over gypsum sheathing, resulting in a list of nail sizes larger than for panels without gypsum underlay.
Note that although it is possible to type in a value in this box, you must select from the list of nail sizes for the design routine to work and the program to operate properly when there are unknown choices. .
Fastener Spacing
You must select from list of standard interior and edge spacings, or select Unknown.
Edge spacing
The nail or screw spacing for panel edges, used for shear wall design. It also affects the calculation of the nail slip component of shear deflection.
Interior spacing
Also called "field" spacing, the nail or screw spacing for the interior of panels. It is used for C&C nail withdrawal design, and for the unblocked factor. You must select from list of standard spacings. This can be unknown.
Refer to the topics under Provisions by Sheathing Material Type for a complete list of all fastener types, sizes and allowable spacing employed in Shearwalls.