WOOD ENGINEERING: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Every time there is a hurricane, and thanks to the global warming it is becoming more frequent than ever before, there are calls for strengthening the regulations on wood houses or even abandoning their use in the coastal regions altogether. Nothing gets more dramatic press release than pictures of wood houses either completely flattened to the ground or with their roofs blown away. As a person who has lived through several hurricanes as well as investigated several others, this writer can attest to the sense of despair felt by the survivors. And maybe that should be reason enough to expect better performances from our houses. Traditional wood construction has always been the domain of experienced contractors honing their expertise on the job, and often with little or no input from structural engineers. Perhaps for that very reason, the textbooks on wood design often read like instruction manuals for putting together audio-video equipment. Useful in their own way, but not enough for understanding why it is being done. This textbook is written for a graduate level course on wood design, and as such goes beyond the coloring by number approach. It provides the background material for the latest edition of the National Design Specification for Wood Construction. The formulas are derived, critiqued, and discussed. Alternatives are given when appropriate, always within the confines of meeting the minimum NDS requirements. There are over eighty worked examples, many presenting the LRFD and ASD solutions side by side. Also included are four design supplements of column and beam tables fashioned in a style similar to column tables from the AISC Steel Construction Manual. The tables are set up based on the characteristic properties that can be adapted to any type of wood or glued laminated timber. On the organization of this book, the first two chapters present a brief introduction to wood and engineered wood products. Chapter 3 covers the connections. Organizationally, this is the right place for this topic as the built-up column types and beam supports require a basic understanding of the connection design. However, depending on one’s preference, it can be studied in tandem with columns in Chapter 4 and Beams in Chapter 5. Curved glulam beams and arches are discussed in Chapter 6. The coverage is the most advanced of any chapter in terms of the background knowledge required and should be carefully reviewed. Chapter 7 covers the combined stresses. The main emphasis is on beam‑columns and truss members. Use of the aforementioned design supplements for beams and columns to account for combined stresses is also discussed. Finally, wood frame box systems including flexible horizontal diaphragms and shear walls are presented in Chapter 8.
ASIN: B0DK6Z8412
VSKU: GBV.B0DK6Z8412.VG
Condition: Very Good
Author/Artist:Saffar, Dr. Ali
Binding: Hardcover
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: Crisp copy with a sturdy binding and light shelf wear.