Super shear panels

Abstract

In structural engineering, a shear wall is a structural system composed normally of braced panels (also known as shear panels) to counter the effects of vertical and lateral loads acting on a structure. The Super Shear panel of the present disclosure provides an efficient lateral resistive shear panel that is light and flexible and provides excellent seismic performance as well. Because the size and shape of the shear walls is repetitive rather than custom built on the job site, fabrication efficiencies exist.

1 . A structural support for a shear panel, comprising:
 a pair of assembled frames, each assembled frame in the pair of assembled frames comprising:
 an inner frame comprising a pair of vertical member integrally connected to a pair of horizontal members forming the inner frame; 
 a first inverted stud connected to and extending between the pair of horizontal members of the inner frame, the first inverted stud having a first open face; 
 a second inverted stud connected to and extending between the pair of horizontal members of the inner frame, the second inverted stud having a second open face; 
 a third inverted stud connected to and extending between the pair of horizontal members of the inner frame, the third inverted stud having a third open face, where the second inverted stud is located between and equidistant from the first and third inverted studs; 
   wherein the pair of assembled frames are integrally connected such that the open faces of each of the first, second and third inverted studs of a first assembled frame in the pair of assembled frames are connected to open faces of the first, second and third inverted studs of a second assembled frame forming first, second and third inverted stud assemblies; and   wherein the connection of the open faces of each of the first inverted studs of the first inverted stud assembly in the first and second assembled frames form a first hollow square tube.   
     
     
         2 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 1 , wherein the connection of the open faces of each of the second inverted studs of the second inverted stud assembly in the first and second assembled frames form a second hollow square tube. 
     
     
         3 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 1 , wherein the connection of the open faces of each of the third inverted studs of the third inverted stud assembly in the first and second assembled frames form a third hollow square tube. 
     
     
         4 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a first outer boundary column integrally connected to the integrally connected pair of assembled frames and a first vertical edge. 
     
     
         5 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 4 , further comprising a second outer boundary column integrally connected to the integrally connected pair of assembled frames along a second vertical edge of the pair of assembled frames. 
     
     
         6 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second and third inverted studs comprise a pair of vertical wall members integrally connected perpendicularly to a web and a first return integrally connected to and extending outwardly from a first vertical wall member and a second return integrally connected to and extending outwardly from a second vertical wall member. 
     
     
         7 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 1 , wherein a piece of sheet metal is located between the pair of assembled frames. 
     
     
         8 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 5 , further comprising a top track encompassing the pair of assembled frames and the first and the second outer boundary columns 
     
     
         9 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 5 , further comprising a bottom track encompassing the pair of assembled frames and the first and the second outer boundary columns, where the bottom track is parallel to the top track. 
     
     
         10 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 4 , wherein the first outer boundary column is embedded within the foundation of a structure. 
     
     
         11 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 5 , wherein the second outer boundary column is embedded within the foundation of a structure. 
     
     
         12 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 1 , wherein the open faces of each of the first, second and third inverted studs from the first assemble frame are fastened to the open faces of each of the first, second and third inverted studs from the second assembled frames by screws. 
     
     
         13 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 1 , wherein the open faces of each of the first, second and third inverted studs from the first assembled frame are fastened to the open faces of each of the first, second and third inverted studs from the second assembly by welding forming the first, second and third inverted stud assemblies. 
     
     
         14 . A structural support for a shear panel, comprising:
 a pair of assembled frames, each assembled frame in the pair of assembled frames comprising:
 an inner frame comprising a pair of vertical member integrally connected to a pair of horizontal members forming the inner frame; 
 a first inverted stud connected to and extending between the pair of horizontal members of the inner frame, the first inverted stud having a first open face; 
 a second inverted stud connected to and extending between the pair of horizontal members of the inner frame, the second inverted stud having a second open face; and 
 a third inverted stud connected to and extending between the pair of horizontal members of the inner frame, the third inverted stud having a third open face, where the second inverted stud is located between and equidistant from the first and third inverted studs; 
   a first outer boundary column integrally connected to the integrally connected pair of assembled frames and a first vertical edge; and   a second outer boundary column integrally connected to the integrally connected pair of assembled frames along a second vertical edge of the pair of assembled frames;   wherein the pair of assembled frames are integrally connected such that the open faces of each of the first, second and third inverted studs of a first assembled frame in the pair of assembled frames are connected to open faces of the first, second and third inverted studs of a second assembled frame forming first, second and third inverted stud assemblies; and   wherein the connection of the open faces of each of the first inverted studs of the first inverted stud assembly in the first and second assembled frames form a first hollow square tube.   
     
     
         15 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 14 , wherein the connection of the open faces of each of the second inverted studs of the second inverted stud assembly in the first and second assembled frames form a second hollow square tube. 
     
     
         16 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 14 , wherein the connection of the open faces of each of the third inverted studs of the third inverted stud assembly in the first and second assembled frames form a third hollow square tube. 
     
     
         17 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first, second and third inverted studs comprise a pair of vertical wall members integrally connected perpendicularly to a web and a first return integrally connected to and extending outwardly from a first vertical wall member and a second return integrally connected to and extending outwardly from a second vertical wall member. 
     
     
         18 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 14 , wherein a piece of sheet metal is located between the pair of assembled frames. 
     
     
         19 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 14 , further comprising a top track encompassing the pair of assembled frames and the first and the second outer boundary columns 
     
     
         20 . The structural support for a shear panel of  claim 19 , further comprising a bottom track encompassing the pair of assembled frames and the first and the second outer boundary columns, where the bottom track is parallel to the top track.