Overview & Example

Overview and Example

The design process in RedSpec™ vNext works from left to right, just like the desktop app. You begin at the project tree on the left and proceed by moving from tab to tab. The purpose of each tab is indicated by the tab label. Depending on what kind of member you are designing, not all of the tabs will be enabled. For example, hole design does not apply to open-web trusses, so the Holes tab will be disabled (grayed out) for open-webs.

As an overview of the RedSpec™ design process, let's run a typical I-joist design. We'll design a floor joist with two 16'-0" spans, spaced 16" o/c, with 40 psf live load and 15 psf dead load. We will check whether an 11 7/8" Red-I45™ is adequate.

RedSpec™ Landing Page

The RedSpec™ Landing Page displays the Folders and Projects you, or others you work with, have created. View more details on Projects and Folders using their respective links.

Create New Design

Select the "New Project" button.

Project Information

In this dialog you record information regarding your project, including the definition of the Building Code and Design Methodology to be used.

Give the Project a name
Enter the Project's intended installation physical location, if known
Enter the Designer's name
Project Owner is automatically entered, it's you
If applicable, enter Project Manager and Tech Rep

To create the first member within this Project Click the + button within the square, second button from the left.

Name the new member, select the application, Floor or Roof and then select the product

You can change the Product for this Member.

Now that the Project is created, we'll move through the tabs, moving from left to right:

Spans
Loads
Serviceability
Holes (skipped for this example)
Design
Results
VMD
Hangers
Print

Spans Tab

We are going to design a two-span joist. The default joist has only one span, so click "+Add Span".

Each span is to be 16'. Select the text box above the dimension line for each span and enter 16. You do not need to key in the complete 16'-0". RedSpec™ will convert the 16.

Note that for this example we will use the default support options: flush bearing on a beam at the ends, bottom bearing on a wall at the intermediate support.

Keep the default settings for lateral support: top support = Continuous. This is typical for a joist that has sheathing on the top flange and no sheathing on the bottom flange.

Link to Spans Tab detailed description.

Loads Tab

RedSpec™ supports 4 different types of loads, Application, Uniform, Point, and Tapered.

For this example we're using just one Application load:
- Select "Application", then using the "Occupancy or Use" dropdown select "Schools: Classrooms". The live, dead and partition loads populate automatically.
This example does not include any additional loads, such as uniform, point, or tapered loads.

Link to Loads Tab detailed description.

Serviceability Tab

On the Serviceability tab, keep the default settings for Deflection Limits,

"Live Load Deflection" = 480
Total Load Deflection Ration = 240

For Deflection and Vibration factors select:

Sheathing Attachment = Glued and Nailed
Sheathing = 24 O.C. (23/32", 3/4")

Under Factors Affecting Vibration Only,

Verify that the box "Check FloorChoice" is checked
Chose:
- None for "Floor Topping", "Ceiling" and "Blocking"

Link to Serviceability Tab detailed description.

Holes Tab

We're not adding holes for this example, but you can add multiple holes along the member's length with round, square and rectangular shapes.

Link to Holes Tab detailed description.

Design Tab

Please select the following:

Under Series, Red-I45
Under Depth, 11.875
Under Spacing, 16

Leave Plies set to 1 and Spacing/Tributary set to 16.

Then click the "Design" button

Link to Design Tab detailed description.

Results Tab

The Results Tab is activated automatically after pressing "Design" on the Design tab.

The solutions grid shows the selected joist, and below it are the design controls: shear, moment, deflection, bearing. All percentages are below 100%, so the 11 7/8" Red-I45™ at 16" o.c. is a sufficient floor joist design.

Link to Results Tab detailed description.

VMD Tab

This tab illustrates the mode shapes and corresponding natural frequencies of a structure under dynamic loading or vibration analysis. These diagrams are used to analyze how a structure vibrates at different frequencies, helping engineers identify potential resonance issues or dynamic responses to forces like wind, earthquakes, or machinery.

Link to VMD Tab detailed description.

Hangers Tab

With the joist design complete, the joist reactions are known. Now it is possible to design the hanger connections on the Hangers tab. RedSpec™ connects through the internet to the Simpson Hanger engine when you enter this tab, so the information presented is as current as Simpson's last update.

With the "Left End" button selected (highlighted in Red) use the dropdowns to choose a Glulam DF/SP header type and 3.125" x 12" header.

A list of all feasible hangers appears in the grid below. Select Top Flange hanger style to narrow the list, and set the top flange length to 1.56 inches to allow room for a hanger on the other side of the same header.

By default the hangers are listed in order of installed cost, according to the hanger manufacturer's cost accounting. Select the hanger at the top of the list by clicking on the box to the left of the row.

Make the same selections for the hanger on the right end by selecting the "Right End" button at the top of the page, follow the same process as you did for the "Left End".

Once selected, the hanger Model is displayed under the "Left End" and "Right End" buttons.

Link to Hangers Tab detailed description.

Print Tab

The Print tab displays a print preview of a PDF document. Buttons at the upper right of the Preview Window allow you to download to your workstation or send to a printer.