ributary width for uplift calc. in light gauge wall studs
 

tributary width for uplift calc. in light gauge wall studs
i happened to notice that people used different loads from different tributary width to calculate the uplift in light gauge column, e.g., for a 24" studs, 24" is the tributary width for compression while 5' or 6' may be the one used in uplift.
i am just wondering if there is any code requirement on this, probablly from aisi?
are you talking about pressure and suction on wall studs? if so, the tributary, per asce 7 is (height of stud)^2/3.
daveatkins
thanks dave, but no, i was talking about the downward axial force on wall studs which are parts of shear wall.