Ten full-size (3.7×4.9m) plywood roof diaphragms were constructed using metal-plate-connected (MPC) common and hip wood trusses or joists, typical of single-family dwelling (SFD) construction. The specimens included three gable roof slopes of 33, 67, and 100%, a hip roof of 33% slope, and a flat roof, with a horizontal bottom...
The construction industry has relied heavily on wood and wood-based composites, such as oriented strand board (OSB) and plywood for timber frame construction. Therefore, it is highly imperative to categorize the response of wood-based composites when exposed to elevated temperatures for a sustained period of time. The essence of fire-resistant...
Seismic design of wood-frame single-family dwellings’ (WFSFD) lateral force–resisting systems requires determination of the stiffness of horizontal diaphragms and shearwalls. During design, sizes and locations of shearwall openings are often changed, altering shearwall stiffness and loads and requiring a significant redesign effort. Rigid and tributary area method analyses are examined...
This paper highlights the development of a rapid visual screening (RVS) tool to quickly identify, inventory, and rank residential buildings that are potentially seismically hazardous, focusing on single-family, wood-frame dwellings with plan irregularity. The SAPWood software was used to perform a series of nonlinear time-history analyses for 480 representative models,...
Tornadoes represent a unique natural hazard because of the very low probability of occurrence, short warning times (on the order of only a few minutes), and the intense and destructive forces imposed on engineered and nonengineered buildings. The very low-probability/very high-consequence nature of a tornado strike makes designing for survival...
The forces exerted on light-frame wood buildings as a result of surge and waves are not fully understood. With a better understanding of these types of forces, it may eventually be possible to build coastal structures to better withstand the loads. In this paper, a recent two part experimental study...
Ten full size (3.7 x 4.9 m) plywood roof diaphragms were constructed using metal plate connected (MPC) common and hip wood trusses or joists, typical of single-family dwelling (SFD) construction. The specimens included three gable roof slopes of 33, 67 and 100%, a hip roof of 33% slope, and a...
This paper presents the results of a test program whose goal was to better understand the contribution of individual elements to the performance of typical light-frame wood structures during tsunami loading. The intent was to be able to replicate failures in a structural engineering laboratory that were observed during laboratory...
The objective of this study was to test a method under development for assigning allowable properties to foreign species graded by American Lumber Standard machine-stress-rated (MSR) rules. The method was tested on dahurian larch (Larix dahurica), a major softwood species that grows in the Russian Far East and could be...
The objective of this study was to develop and validate practical modeling methods for investigating load paths and system behavior in a realistic, light-frame wood structure. The modeling methods were validated against full-scale tests on sub-assemblies and an L-shaped house. The model of the L-shaped house was then modified and...
There are about 80 million single-family dwellings (SFD) in the United States,
predominantly of wood-frame construction. Of these, 68% are owner occupied. A home is
typically the largest single investment of a family, and is often not covered by earthquake
insurance, even where it is available. Of all the houses...
Remediation methods and strength predictions were evaluated for wood I-joists with single, circular holes in the webs, leaving utilities in place. A full-scale bending test using four equally-spaced point loads was applied to three depths of joists with varying flange widths and span lengths of 4.88 m and 2.44 m....
The performance of full-scale light-frame wood walls subjected to wave loading was examined using the Large Wave Flume of the Network for Earthquake Engineering (NEES) Tsunami Facility at Oregon State University. The hydrodynamic conditions (water level and bore speed) and structural response (horizontal force, pressure, and deflection) were observed for...
Probability density functions (normal, lognormal, and three-parameter Weibull) were used to characterize strength data for three different types of metal-plate-connected wood truss joints (web at the bottom chord, tension splice, and heel). Modulus of elasticity (MOE) of the lumber used to fabricate the joints was also characterized. A probability-plot technique,...
Tsunami force and pressure distributions on a rigid
wall fronted by a small seawall were determined experimentally
in a large-scale wave flume. Six different
seawall heights were examined, two of which were exposed
to a range of solitary wave heights. The same
experiment was done without a seawall for comparison....
Recent natural disasters around the world including
both tsunamis and hurricanes, have highlighted the inability
of wood buildings to withstand wave and surge
loading during these extreme events. Little is known
about the interaction between coastal residential light-frame
wood buildings and wave and surge loading because
often little is left...
Wood and wood-based composites are being used extensively in single-family residential dwellings. Therefore, it is important to categorize their response when exposed to elevated temperatures for a sustained period of time. In fire-resistant design for wood structures, the main goal is to ensure that enough structural integrity is maintained, during...
Global sustainability goals have led to the development of the green building movement. The Green
Building Program, stemming from the movement, has had unprecedented success as it provides a quantifi able
metric to people’s efforts towards sustainable development. Sustainable development and green buildings are often
used interchangeably. Although, sustainable development...
Tornadoes represent a unique natural hazard because of the very low probability of
occurrence, short warning times (on the order of only a few minutes), and the intense and
destructive forces imposed on engineered and non-engineered buildings. The very low-probability very high-consequence nature of a tornado strike makes designing for...
Fracture toughness of wood and wood composites has traditionally been characterized by a stress intensity factor, an initiation strain energy release rate (G[subscript init]) or a total energy to fracture (G[subscript f]). These parameters provide incomplete fracture characterization for these materials because the toughness changes as the crack propagates. Thus...