Modeling Buildings with Atriums in RAM SS

All,

What are the best practices for modeling (RAM SS) a floor in a multi story building that has a large opening against the exterior wall (such as an atrium)?  We have modeled it so that the slab edge is the perimeter of the building.  Then put in the large opening ringed by beams.  The diaphragm is rigid.  Since there is a small sliver of slab on the exterior beams (with a rigid diaphragm), it does not transfer any wind loads to these beams and therefore they *and the columns they are attached to) are not properly designed.  It also means the load paths for this area are not 100% correct.  We are looking at designing them in a component software (spreadsheet).

Any thoughts or recommendations for this?

Thanks,

Mike

Parents Reply
  • We have a glass curtainwall enclosed atrium that starts at the Second Floor and goes past the Third Floor and the Attic Floor up to the Roof Level.  The screenshot shows some intermediate framing that only occurs at the Third Floor.  The floor is a composite deck (rigid diaphragm).  Could I include the HSS beams at the curtainwall perimeter in a separate semi-rigid diaphragm and properly capture the wind loads with my HSS-W16 moment frame H9-J9 in both directions?

    Should I change anything else at this level (3rd Flr)?  I hope you can click on the screenshot to see it full-size.

Children