LAVA uses many terms from the structural engineering and construction industry, however they are abbreviated or shortened for convenience and space. To ensure clarity and ease of use, this is a compiled list of commonly used acronyms and industry-specific terminology related to LAVA. This Glossary serves as a quick reference to help you navigate the software and its features more efficiently. The list is organized alphabetically.
LAVA Terms
1-pour - This describes a homogeneously poured foundation on grade, LAVA uses this information to select the proper HD anchorages to foundation (cast-in-place hold-downs).
2-pour - This describes a foundation constructed in a two-pour sequence with a horizontally cold joint 4 inches below the top surface of the slab, portions of the foundation where curbs occur are treated as being poured monolithically with the foundation or adequately doweled, and then a vertical cold joint occurs to the side of the curb with the slab abutting. LAVA uses this information to select the proper HD anchorages to foundation.
Deck - An elevated podium type deck
FAU - Forced Air Unit
Gap - For light gauge straps, LAVA considers the practical ineffective length of a strap to be the distance (gap) from the top of the post or beam below to the bottom of the post (chord) above. This is as opposed to the floor assembly thickness itself. The “gap” changes the stiffness of the hold-down assembly for stiffness and drift calculations since any fasteners within the gap are commonly ineffectual. LAVA also limits the use of some precut straps at wider gaps. Tabulated below are the available options and their representations. Intermediate and extrapolated dimensions are assumed to not significantly alter results.
Gap | Build-Up | Representation |
|---|---|---|
6 in | (1) or (2) 2x sill plates & (2) 2x top plates with floor sheathing between. | Ballon framing & flush beam connections. |
16 in | (1) or (2) 2x sill plates & (2) 2x top plates with 2x10 or 2x12 joists & floor sheathing between. | Solid sawn 2x10 to 2x14 platform framing. |
18 in | (1) or (2) 2x sill plates & (2) 2x top plates with 12 to 16 in I-joists & floor sheathing. between. | I-Joist platform framing. |
24 in | (1) or (2) 2x sill plates & (2) 2x top plates with 18 to 22 in trusses & floor sheathing between. | Shallow metal plate connected wood truss platform framing. |
30 in | (1) or (2) 2x sill plates & (2) 2x top plates with 24 to 28 in trusses & floor sheathing between. | Deep metal plate connected wood truss platform framing. |
HD - Hold down or hold-down assembly hardware used at ends of shear walls, including cast-in-place hold-downs, and light gauge straps.
MFR - Multi Family Residential
MPC - Metal Plate Connected Truss
RWF: Raised wood floor system with a 17inch maximum gap between the top of concrete and the bottom of the attached post. LAVA uses this information to select the proper HD anchorages to foundation
SDC - Seismic Design Category. For certain hardware (such as hold-downs cast into concrete), LAVA has separate lists for ‘SDC AB’ and ‘SDC CDEF’. This is because certain seismic design provisions are not applicable in SDC A & B, and some buildings are not subject to seismic analysis. Certain hardware (straps, or holdowns cast into concrete) has different capacities in ‘Seismic Design Category A or B’, and ‘Seismic Design Category C through F’.
SDC AB - Seismic Design Category A or B. Some seismic design provisions are not applicable in SDC A & B, and some buildings are not subject to seismic analysis. Certain hardware (such as hold-downs cast into concrete) has different capacities from Seismic Design Category C through E.
SOG- Slab on Grade
SFR - Single Family Residential
SG - Specific Gravity. LAVA has two sets of design values for hardware used with different specific gravities, 0.5G and 0.42G. This is consistent with the manner that the hardware manufacturers (Simpson Strong-Tie and Mitek) publish the design values.
Tract - Single Family housing development that are built with similar floor plans on a tract (area) that was subdivided into smaller lots