Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-100).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 139-142).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 223).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-169).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 163-166).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2005. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (January 23, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-111).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 227-231).

Modern timber frame buildings are a unique combination of ancient carpentry techniques coupled with one of the newest enclosure systems found on construction sites around the world. Contemporary timber frame structures typically utilize structural-insulated panels (SIPs) attached to a timber frame skeleton to create functional, enclosed structures, such as houses, churches and a myriad of retail and industrial buildings. The skeleton contains large wooden members connected using wooden joints held together with wooden pegs or wedges. SIPs consist of a layer of rigid expanded polystyrene insulation covered on one side by oriented strand board and on the other side by oriented strand board, drywall, or some other interior finish. In timber frame buildings, SIPs also serve as diaphragm elements, which are flat structural assemblies loaded by shear forces in the plane of the panel. Current design methodologies for timber frame structures do not formally incorporate the structural benefits of SIPs as diaphragm elements, which contribute significantly to the ability of these buildings to resist lateral loads. The contribution of this research was to quantify necessary design parameters to enable timber frame designers to capitalize on the significant in-plane strength and stiffness of SIPs when designing timber frame structures to resist lateral loads. Strength and stiffness tests were conducted on three 8 ft (2.44 m) deep and 24 ft (7.32 m) long roof diaphragm assemblies, and two 20 ft (6.10 m) deep and 24 ft (7.32 m) long roof diaphragm assemblies. Data from these tests were collected, tabulated and analyzed according to existing methods typically utilized for post-frame diaphragm testing. Strength and stiffness of timber frame and SIP roof diaphragm assemblies were determined from monotonic test results and a value for Response Modification Coefficient, R, for use with seismic design procedures, was estimated utilizing cyclic test data. Procedures for calculating strength and stiffness of a roof diaphragm based on the strength and stiffness of test panels were presented and incorporated within post-frame diaphragm design methods. Diaphragm-frame interaction analyses were performed utilizing test data from roof diaphragm assemblies that demonstrated the code conformance of members within timber frames subjected to lateral loads. Using roof diaphragm test data and procedures developed for adjustments from the test panel to building roof length, example designs were conducted which confirmed the effectiveness of including SIPs as diaphragm elements for code conforming designs for wind and seismic load resistance of timber frame and SIP buildings. / Ph. D.

Bridges and buildings are often supported on deep foundations. These foundations consist of groups of piles coupled together by concrete pile caps. These pile caps, which are often massive and deeply buried, would be expected to provide significant resistance to lateral loads. However, practical procedures for computing the resistance of pile caps to lateral loads have not been developed, and, for this reason, cap resistance is usually ignored. Neglecting cap resistance results in estimates of pile group deflections and bending moments under load that may exceed the actual deflections and bending moments by 100 % or more. Advances could be realized in the design of economical pile-supported foundations, and their behavior more accurately predicted, if the cap resistance can be accurately assessed. This research provides a means of assessing and quantifying many important aspects of pile group and pile cap behavior under lateral loads. The program of work performed in this study includes developing a full-scale field test facility, conducting approximately 30 lateral load tests on pile groups and pile caps, performing laboratory geotechnical tests on natural soils obtained from the site and on imported backfill materials, and performing analytical studies. A detailed literature review was also conducted to assess the current state of practice in the area of laterally loaded pile groups. A method called the "group-equivalent pile" approach (abbreviated GEP) was developed for creating analytical models of pile groups and pile caps that are compatible with established approaches for analyzing single laterally loaded piles. A method for calculating pile cap resistance-deflection curves (p-y curves) was developed during this study, and has been programmed in the spreadsheet called PYCAP. A practical, rational, and systematic procedure was developed for assessing and quantifying the lateral resistance that pile caps provide to pile groups. Comparisons between measured and calculated load-deflection responses indicate that the analytical approach developed in this study is conservative, reasonably accurate, and suitable for use in design. The results of this research are expected to improve the current state of knowledge and practice regarding pile group and pile cap behavior. / Ph. D.