Spring 2017 - SEABC Course C11 –Timber Design for Light Residential and Commercial Buildings

Objective – To qualify students for the design of wood building components to the requirements of
CAN/CSA-O86-14 within the methods employed by local Canadian structural engineering practices

Contents of Course Outline

Part A – Course Contents

Part B – Homework Assignments

Part C – Final Exam

Part D – Distribution of Marks

Part E – Location of Lecture Sessions

Part F – Times and Dates of Lecture Sessions

Part G – Table of Lecture Sessions / Homework Assignments given, taken in and returned

Part H – Notes to Course Outline

Part I – Textbook
A. Course Contents – 12 Thursdays + break (numbered according to week):

1. Introduction to Wood Construction / Wood Properties (R. Jirava, RDJ Structural Designs Ltd)
a. Course Outline / Contents; overview of homework assignments and how homework
assignments are to be carried out
b. Examples of Light Residential and Commercial Buildings, local and iconic
c. Old European and New European
d. New Local Part-Prefab
e. Simulated Wood and unusual wood
f. Quick facts on Canada’s and BC’s forest industry
g. Early logging in Lower Mainland and Heritage Houses
h. Wood as a Choice for Building Material; architect’s and engineer’s impacts on design
and Wood among the material choices
i. How wood framing works in different methods – platform framing method; hybrid of
wood frame and milled logs method; hybrids of wood frame, timber frame and SIPS
j. Wood frame – components and terminology
k. Wood frame – roof trusses (names of components; different truss shapes; basic truss
roof types; truss manufacture; truss erection; stability during erection; stability during
service; sample Mitek layout; sample structural drawing layout; sample 3D Mitek roof
truss layouts on different projects; unusual truss layout / configuration
l. Introduction to Wood Engineering – dimensional lumber geometric properties; Span to
Depth Ratios for wood decking, panels, dimensional lumber, wood I-joists, stressed skin
panels, Plywood Box Beams, PSL, LVL, Glulam, Pitched trusses, parallel chord trusses and
bowstring trusses; Code Table 6.3.1A Wood frame member eng. properties; Table 6.3.1C
Beam and Stringer eng. properties; Table 6.3.1D Post and Timber eng. Properties
m. Important characteristics of wood - Table 5.3.2.2 – Effect of Load Duration on strength
n. Intro to Panels - Plywood and OSB
o. Intro to Engineered wood products - PSL, LVL and LSL
p. Intro to wood framing metal connectors (Simpson Strong Tie)
q. Intro to Engineering Drawings – Details of: Wood at foundations, Shearwalls, wall / floor
interfaces and drop / flush beams
r. Intro to Engineering Drawings – Symbols used on plans and schedules
s. Sample project – Typical Vancouver SF house architectural elevations with sample
structural plans
t. Sample project – Typical custom SF house architectural plan, elevation sections with
sample structural plans
u. Sample project – Utility building framing concept =
v. Sample project - Timber / fabric riding arena concept example
w. Sample project – Riding arena plan
x. Sample project – 6-storey wood frame shearwall
y. Sample project – Timber / Glulam Club house plan and timber frame elevations
z. Sample project – Apartment Building
2. Design of key wood elements in timber and sawn lumber (R. Jirava)
a. Overview – member terminology, load duration
b. Joists
c. Beams
d. Columns
e. Walls
f. Plates
g. Decking
h. Sheathing

3. Engineered Wood (R. Jirava)

a. Why they came to be; why we use them
b. Glulam
c. PSL
d. LVL
e. LSL
f. I-joists
g. CLT
h. SIPS panels

4. Design of Connections (R. Jirava)

a. Nails
i. Plywood to sawn lumber connection
ii. Building up sawn lumber members
iii. Joist, beam hangers and straps
iv. Hand framing and toe nailing
v. Nailing limitations
b. Other types of light-gauge steel connectors – demonstrate the validity of the strength
values in the Simpson Strong Tie book
c. Screws
d. Lag Screws
e. Thru bolts with and without internal plates; bolt group limitations
f. Shear Plates and Split Rings
g. SFS SDS screws with internal plates
5. Introduction to Seismic Design Part 1 / 3 (R. Jirava)
a. VLLRS System Introduction
b. Shearwall Basics - behavior
c. Shearwall Segments without holddowns
d. Shear Capacities
e. Shearwall Details: Edge Nailing and Blocking
f. Shearwall Details: Plate nailing and Shear Transfer across floor levels
g. Shearwall behavior – deformation
h. Shearwall deflection limits per code
i. Mid-ply concept
j. Diaphragm Basics – behavior (rigid vs. flexible)
k. Regular vs. irregular diaphragms
l. Diaphragm analysis: flexible and rigid; eccentric loading
m. Diaphragm Capacities
n. Diaphragm Details

6. Introduction to Seismic Design Part 2 / 3 (R. Jirava)

a. Building Design Example (small 4-story apartment)
i. Seismic Force Computations
ii. Storey Shear and Storey Bending
iii. Identifying shearwall “bands” and selecting VLLR systems
iv. Diaphragm Analysis and design

8. Introduction to Seismic Design Part 3 / 3 (R. Jirava)

i. 2013 BC Building Code Part 9 Lateral Bracing Requirements
ii. Proper structural engineering consulting services for single family house design
(preparing detailed structural drawings vs. commonly-seen, cheap, mark-up method of
designer’s plans; properly presenting structural plans using stacking rationale and grid
lines; standard details and custom details)
iii. Typical 2-storey + basement SF house design information (what gets sent to you and
how to deal with it)
iv. Seismic Force Computations due to superstructure
v. Other seismic effects due to retained earth
vi. Roof Truss layouts (requesting a professional truss layout before designing is good
practice)
vii. Simultaneously working up a VLLR system (using shearwall bands) and gravity system; If
necessary overruling the designer or architect and driving the design; good architecture
is good structure
viii. Ensuring load path continuity through proper detailing
9. Wood: Engineering Possibilities (D. Palibroda, Fast + Epp)

10. Commercial Buildings (R. Jirava)

a. Four Story residential wood frame / CRU’s down below
i. Seismic force computations
ii. VLLR identification
iii. Shearwall Design
iv. Diaphragm Design
v. Detailing for load path continuity
vi. Gravity Framing Design

11. Engineering Designs in the Office / Worked Examples (R. Jirava)

a. Details for Previous Week’s Example
b. Presentation of Drawings – plans, legends and information
c. Construction and Field review – industry standards and what to expect

12. Assignments Workshop (R. Jirava)

13. Final exam (R. Jirava)

B. Homework Assignments

Except for those students who have stipulated that you are auditing the course, all students are required
to complete assignments.

B.1 Format Required for Assignments

Assignments MUST be done by hand (i.e. no computer aids are permitted). All work must be shown
clearly. Graph paper is useful, although blank or lined paper will suffice. Use diagrams where possible to
describe the work. (Hint – freebody diagrams showing external and internal forces are very useful).
Write your name and email address clearly on the assignment paper and attach the assignment paper to
the front of your work. Assignments handed in in class must be stapled together. Duotangs, jackets and
binders will not be accepted, only loose-leaf sheets stapled together.

B.2 Online Student Assignments

Online students shall scan their assignments and email in PDF format to robert@horaceeng.com. The
PDF file name naming format shall be “Firstname Lastname Assignment #.pdf”. CAUTION: pencil may
not scan very well depending on your scanner. Students writing in pencil are encouraged to press firmly
and ensure their scanners capture the work properly before the file is sent. Illegible work may be subject
to penalty or may be not accepted.

B.3 Late Assignments

Assignments MUST be handed in (or e-mailed in) on time by the end of the class when they are due as
set out in the “Sessions Schedule”. Assignments handed in (or e-mailed in) by 6:30pm the following day
are subject to a 1 point penalty. Assignments handed in (or e-mailed in) by 6:30pm two days after class
are subject to a 2 point penalty. Assignments handed in more than 2 days late will not be accepted.

B.4 Marking and Returning of Assignments to students

To guarantee returns (as many assignments returned in class are not reclaimed by students) all
assignments will be marked in red, scanned as a pdf file with the file name format. Students must write
their name and email address on the front of their assignment. All assignments will be emailed back to
students to the email address they supply on the front of their assignment.

C. Final Exam

The final exam will be given on the 13th week of classes at the same day of the week and time as the
lectures. The final exam is divided into 3 parts and is worth a total of 60 marks. Last year’s points
distribution was as follows:

Part A – General Knowledge – Multiple Choice Questions 37 questions 1 point each

Part B – Short Computations – Short Answers 13 questions 1 point each

Part C – Sketched or Drawn Solutions 2 questions 5 points each

D. Distribution of marks

1. FINAL EXAM - worth 40% of the mark

2. ASSIGNMENTS - 4 Assignments, combined worth 60% of the mark (15% EACH) 1,2,3

E. Location of Lecture Sessions

Room C485, UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver

F. Times / Dates

Spring 2017, 12 Thursdays 6:30pm – 8:30pm

G. Lecture Sessions / Homework Schedule

Week # Date Topic Instructor Assignment #

Given Due 1 Returned
1 Jan 12 Introduction / Wood Properties R. Jirava
2 Jan 19 Design of Key Wood Elements R. Jirava #1
3 Jan 26 Engineered Wood R. Jirava #1
4 Feb 2 Connections R. Jirava #1
5 Feb 9 Intro to Seismic 1/3 R. Jirava #2
6 Feb 16 Intro to Seismic 2/3 R. Jirava #2
7 Feb 23 Mid-Term Break
8 Mar 2 Intro to Seismic 3/3 R. Jirava #3 #2
9 Mar 9 Wood: Engineering Possibilities D. Palibroda
10 Mar 16 Commercial Buildings R. Jirava #4 #3
11 Mar 23 Worked Examples R. Jirava #4 #3
12 Mar 30 Assignments Workshop R. Jirava #4
13 Apr 6 Final exam R. Jirava

H. Notes to Course Outline (indicated by subscript numbers)

1 Each assignment is worth 15% of the student’s total mark. Each assignment will have 15 points maximum score. All Assignments together are
worth a total of 60 points maximum or 60% of the course mark.
2 Late assignments will be subject to penalties as follows:
Late by Deduction
1 day 1 point
2 days 2 points
>2 days score will be given as zero; assignment will not be accepted
3 Please refer to student code of conduct for more information. Copying of any work will not be tolerated and may result in expulsion from the
course.
I. Textbook

Although it is not mandatory to pass the course (we supply tables and code clauses) the Canadian Wood
Council Wood Design Manual 2015 may be purchased. As some of the students are new to our city, or
don’t work in consulting at this time, we have decided not to impose this additional cost on the
students. However, if you plan to practice wood engineering design this book is a must for you and
should be purchased. Black and white diagrams, contains entire O86 code. Hard cover book (yellow
spine and yellow / gray front and rear covers).

Canada Wood Council also publishes the “Introduction to Wood Design”. This is a useful reference for
engineer of all skill levels. Black and white diagrams and illustrations with direct code references and
worked design examples. Soft cover book, spiral bound (yellow spiral and yellow bordered jacket).

FP Innovations publishes the “Mid Rise Wood Frame Construction Handbook” as a special publication.
Covers structural products, structural design including floor vibration control, design for vertical
differential movement, fire safety, noise control, building envelope details and design of stairs and
elevator shafts. Color diagrams and illustrations. Soft cover book. Edited by Chun Ni, PhD, P.Eng and
Marjan Popovsky, PhD, P.Eng.