In a subduction zone, the volcanic arc marks the location where magma, generated via flux melting in the mantle wedge, migrates through the crust and erupts. While the location of deep magma broadly defines the arc position, here we argue that crustal structures, identified in geophysical data from the Washington...
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 subassemblies and an L-shaped house. The model of the L-shaped house was then modified and...
The objective of this study was to compare structural load path and system behavior of a light-frame (LF) and a timber frame (TF) structure. This load path analysis is part of a broader research effort that compares LF to TF residential structures. Structural analysis software was used to create a...
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...
There are about 80 million single-family dwellings (SFDs) 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 in...
Residential energy use is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Reducing energy efficiency in conventional wood-framed houses are thermal bridges: direct paths that allow heat to flow through the studs instead of the insulation. One suggestion for reducing thermal bridging is the staggered stud (SS) wall....
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...
Tsunamis have devastated coastal regions worldwide, with the most recent being the result of the Great Tohoku Japan earthquake and tsunami, which was a M9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred off the east coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. In this study, a fragility formulation is utilized to develop...
This study investigates the applicability of the database-assisted design (DAD) methodology to predict structural reactions in a light-framed wood structure subjected to fluctuating wind pressures. Structural influence functions were determined on a 1/3-scale light-frame wood structure, which was then subjected to a wind flow, while the surface pressures and structural...
The objective of this project was to evaluate system effects and further define load paths within a light-frame wood structure under extreme wind events. The three-dimensional 30- by 40-ft (9.1- by 12.2-m) building, designed to be representative of typical light-frame wood construction in the southeastern coastal region of the United...