Code-listed stacked shearwall solution
Simpson Strong-Tie’s Steel Strong-Wall shearwall is 2006 IBC code listed for use in two-story construction applications. Prefabricated shearwalls are often used in wood and light gauge steel buildings that are designed with larger window and door openings. These walls provide the strength and load capacity needed for designs while offering narrow widths to accommodate larger openings. With the ability to stack prefabricated shearwalls, designers and builders can achieve even greater design flexibility in two-story homes and buildings. The walls are code-listed to the 2006 IRC/IBC (see ICC-ES ESR-1679) and conform to ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria (AC322). ICC-ES ESR-1679 provides allowable base-moment information and a design example to help designers with stacked-wall solutions that account for cumulative overturning.
Simpson Strong-Tie,
www.strongtie.com/steelstrongwall

Finite element analysis product suite
Dassault Systèmes (DS), a provider of 3D and product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, announced the availability of Abaqus 6.9 Extended Functionality (6.9-EF), its technology-leading unified finite element analysis (FEA) product suite from SIMULIA. Designers, engineers, and researchers in a broad range of industries use Abaqus to predict the real-world behavior of products, materials, and manufacturing processes. This latest release delivers key new features and enhancements for modeling, advanced mechanics, and performance. According to the company, ongoing improvements enable customers to consolidate their simulation software, thereby lowering cost and increasing efficiency in their product-development process.
Dassault Systèmes,
www.3ds.com