Design Tab

Introduction

You may click on the Design tab to select the specific engineered wood products for each calculation. There are two basic alternatives for determining the products that satisfy each specific span and loading input data.

Selecting a Specific Product
1. - Fill in data for all fields.
Using "Best Systems" to complete the design
1. - Click "Select All" at the top of the list for series, depth, and/or spacing.
  - Open-web only: Hold down the Ctrl key and click on each item you would like to consider, or hold down the Shift key and select a range of items by clicking on your first choice and then your last choice.

Once you've made your selection, Click the "Design Button". RedSpec™ will consider all selected items and return the best options for the specific application.

The options available vary by type of Product selected in the Member Tab.

Red-I

OpenWeb

A custom depth may be defined

Solid Section

Width is a required selection

Series

Type or select a series or grade of member based on the product type as required.

Width

Type or select the width of member based on the product type as required. The field will be disabled if designing with an I-joist or open-web truss since width is a function of series.

Plies

Type or select a multiple member value as a RedSpec� option with RedLam� LVL beams or Red-I™ joists. Single-member 1.75 RedLam™ LVL depth is limited to 18". Multiple members must be properly connected per RedBuilt™ recommendations. See Multiple-Ply Members or the appropriate RedBuilt™ design guide.

Depth (in)

Select depth of member based on the product type as required. Note: Single plies of 1" RedLam™ LVL are limited to 18" depth.

Custom Depth (in)

Enter a custom depth in inches (not available for all products).

Top Chord Slope

Tapered and pitched open-web trusses require top chord slope. After the slope is entered, the available depths in the list above are updated. The depths are given in Left-Right format for tapered trusses and Left - Ridge - Right format for pitched trusses. Negative slope is allowed for tapered trusses, which signifies a truss that is deeper on the left than the right. The bottom chord is assumed to be horizontal.

Note: Tapered and Pitched OpenWEB only, defined on the Spans Tab.

Spacing/Tributary Width

Tributary width or spacing is the area of floor or roof that contributes load to a joist or beam. For I-joist designs this is normally the on-center spacing of the joists (i.e. 16", 19.2", etc). For beam designs the tributary width is determined from the length of the framing members supported by the beam. Joists continuous over a beam produce additional load not accounted for by simple tributary width calculations. In this case, tributary width must be adjusted using standard engineering practice, or input pounds per lineal foot (plf) for uniform and tapered loads and pounds (lbs) for concentrated loads.

As with depth, you may select a spacing item from the list or enter custom spacing below.

Design Button

After you have selected a product by any of the above procedures, the analysis is completed by clicking the "Design" button. The Results tab will be automatically activated.

Tutorial

A video tutorial related to this topic is available here. Internet connectivity is required.

Link to Overview and Example.

Google Sites

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