Category: Posts

In wood shear wall design, connection hardware plays a critical role in the performance of the lateral system. As manufacturers develop stronger and more efficient solutions, structural engineering software must stay aligned so engineers can evaluate these products using the…

LIVE FREE WEBINAR This on-demand session takes a clear, practical look at what’s new in IBC 2024 for wood-framed buildings. It focuses on the updates that actually matter, how they affect seismic design and load paths, and what they mean…

Wood Building Designs Streamlined The latest version of LAVA is here—fully updated for IBC 24/CBC 25 and packed with new features that make seismic, wind, and snow design more transparent and accurate than ever. Updated Seismic Site Parameters The 2024…

IBC 2024 Change for Vertical Seismic Design Check The 2024 IBC brings an important shift for wood-framed buildings: every level in a structure must now be at least as strong—or stronger—than the level above it. Why? To reduce the risk…

A Seamless Workflow for Podium and Foundation Design In structural design, seamless coordination between analysis tools is crucial—especially when it comes to transferring loads between superstructure and foundation systems. For engineers working with LAVA and ADAPT Builder, exporting reaction forces…

Design Flexibility Made Simple Residential developers increase profitability by offering options—such as a bonus room, an extended kitchen, or an extra bedroom. The Challenge: Structural Changes For structural engineers, these seemingly minor changes can be brutal.  Minor adjustments—like adding a…

Modern apartment buildings and hotels often feature expansive windows and open spaces on exterior walls, leaving little room for traditional shear walls. Cantilevered diaphragms are essential in these designs, efficiently transferring lateral loads to internal supports. With LAVA, designing cantilever…

Simplify Complex Loads: How LAVA Handles Unstacked Lateral Walls In structural design, lateral wall placement and alignment can make or break the building design. When lateral walls aren’t perfectly stacked in a building, the transfer of lateral forces can create…

In LAVA software, shear lines allow you to adjust the method to distribute the lateral force as Stiffness or Capacity based.   SDPWS 4.3.3.4.1 requires ‘Shear distribution to individual shear walls in a shear wall line shall provide the same…

Changes are inevitable in wood design projects, but without an efficient workflow, they can lead to costly delays and missed deadlines. Spreadsheets, though popular, often fall short in handling project changes. Discover how LAVA streamlines your workflow, ensuring accuracy, adaptability, and time savings.