This thesis explores the construction and architectural qualities of historic bank barns found in Chester county Pennsylvania. Analyzing the timber joints and adapting their characteristics for modern programmatic needs. It aims to extend the role of the heavy timber frame and reintroduce the methods of construction found in these historic handcrafted structures. Using the programmatic lens of a public library to isolate the distinct qualities of a barn including heavy and light, cellular and open, and the bent. The site of this Library is Kennett Square Pennsylvania, a rapidly expanding town in Chester county. While the town has made efforts to preserve the historic structures that surround it, the new construction has turned its back to these historic methods. Located in the center of downtown, this proposal would replace the existing inadequate public library. The program of a library offers the opportunity to educate the public and revitalize interest in timber structures. / Master of Architecture / This project analyzes the design of Pennsylvania bank barns and applies those architectural themes and details to the program of a Library. The bank barn is a significant agricultural structure that is uniquely linked to Pennsylvania's architectural history. Many of the building techniques and details of these barns haven't been utilized since advances in building technologies made them obsolete. Although, the structures that have been preserved continue to peak the interest of the public and the qualities continue to be emulated in residential projects. This thesis brings together the design of a bank barn and the program of a library located in Kennett Square Pennsylvania. The project experiments with extracting layouts and details from one type of structure and applying them to a completely different type of building. Experimenting with the qualities found in different building typologies could offer an opportunity to reinvent structures whose designs have remained stagnant.

This thesis discusses the results of experimental tests on two post-tensioned timber core-walls, tested under bi-directional quasi-static seismic loading. The half-scale two-storey test specimens included a stair with half-flight landings. Multi-storey timber structures are becoming increasingly desirable for architects and building owners due to their aesthetic and environmental benefits. In addition, there is increasing public pressure to have low damage structural systems with minimal business interruption after a moderate to severe seismic event. Timber has been used extensively for low-rise residential structures in the past, but has been utilised much less for multi-storey structures, traditionally limited to residential type building layouts which use light timber framing and include many walls to form a lateral load resisting system. This is undesirable for multi-storey commercial buildings which need large open spaces providing building owners with versatility in their desired floor plan. The use of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels for multi-storey timber buildings is gaining popularity throughout the world, especially for residential construction. Previous experimental testing has been done on the in-plane behaviour of single and coupled post-tensioned timber walls at the University of Canterbury and elsewhere. However, there has been very little research done on the 3D behaviour of timber walls that are orthogonal to each other and no research to date into post-tensioned CLT walls. The “high seismic option” consisted of full height post-tensioned CLT walls coupled with energy dissipating U-shaped Flexural Plates (UFPs) attached at the vertical joints between coupled wall panels and between wall panels and the steel corner columns. An alternative “low seismic option” consisted of post-tensioned CLT panels connected by screws, to provide a semi-rigid connection, allowing relative movement between the panels, producing some level of frictional energy dissipation.

The aim of the study was to characterise the environment in the Sydney region in respect of atmospheric corrosivity, timber decay risk factors and the corrosion of nails in timber in covered conditions. The study reviewed contemporary research in this field, particularly in Australia, developing an understanding of the durability failure mechanisms for timber and nails in timber. The study looked at the effects of climatic aspects, pollutants, corrosion on timber decay risk factors. The study found that the levels of risk in terms of timber degradation, corrosion and nail corrosion were greatest adjacent to the coast and at marine sites. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (M.E.)--University of Canterbury, 2009. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-125). Also available via the World Wide Web.

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Preliminary plots are required when beginning a cruise for a timber sale in order to get an idea of how much variation in volume exists within the sale area. This variation is known as the coefficient of variation (CV) and is subsequently used to estimate the number of plots needed to implement the cruise to a desired level of accuracy (allowable error). By looking at a large number of sale inventories and finding similarities among key attributes (trees per acre, diameter at breast height and an estimate of variance), two models were derived based on simple stand observations to aid field personnel in determining a more accurate estimate of the CV. Furthermore, the models estimate the number of 1/10 acre plots needed to sample a stand to within a ± 10% allowable error at the 90% confidence level for total tonnage.

Timber-concrete composite (TCC) floor systems consist of a bottom layer of wood that is connected to a top layer of concrete using shear connectors. The shear connectors resist slip between the layers, thus allowing wood and concrete develop composite action when subjected to flexure. The objective of this study is to determine the flexural strength and behavior of TCC floor systems that consist of a cross laminated timber wood layer connected to a concrete top layer using hexagonally headed self-tapping screw shear connectors. To accomplish the objective, coupon specimens and full-scale TCC floor panels were tested, and a finite element modelling approach was developed. The coupon tests were used to determine the stiffness of the shear connection and to determine the effect of the screw configuration. The results from the coupon tests indicated that the inclined screw configuration provided the largest shear strength compared to the normal, crossed, and nested screw configurations. Based on the results from the coupon tests, bending and vibration (heel drop) tests were conducted on full-scale panel specimens with an inclined screw configuration and with a strong-axis panel orientation. The results from the full-scale panel tests showed that the flexural stiffness and strength of the TCC floor system was consistent and that the composite floor panels have adequate stiffness to minimize transient floor vibrations that are caused by walking for typical span lengths and typical loading. A finite element model of TCC floor systems was developed to simulate TCC floor systems and calibrated with the test data. The simulated response matched the test response fairly well for partially composite single-span and double-span panels. Additional refinement of the model is needed to better match fully composite panels. The research demonstrated that hexagonal-headed self-tapping screws may be effectively used to connect wood and concrete layers in TCC floor systems.

How can we as design professionals contribute to increase the use of less carbon-intensive materials to build our growing cities? Cities are experiencing a resurgence in population growth and therefore the building industry ought to attend this demand with sustainable solutions. One way of responding to the growing urban population and increase demand for housing as well as to make efficient use of our limited resources is to increase the density in our cities. Since steel and concrete have high material strengths, we currently use either steel, concrete or composites of them to build skyscrapers. Unfortunately, both of these materials have a large carbon footprint. The design community has the challenge to achieve net-zero emissions buildings by the year 2030, and the efforts now should be focused on using less carbon intensive materials, such as timber. While cultures around the world have built with wood for centuries, recent technological innovations, such as Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), is allowing for new applications of wood as the main structural material and the potential to use it for large-scale projects. However, as expected with a new building material some constrains have still to be overcome. For my thesis, I desired to explore this issue through the design of a tall building using mass timber as its main structural material. Engineered timber is here, the future is bright! / Master of Architecture / Urban population is growing faster than ever before and at the same time, we have started to suffer the scarcity of resources. One way of responding to the growing urban population as well as to make efficient use of our limited resources is to increase the density in our cities. We currently use either steel, concrete or composites of them to build skyscrapers. Unfortunately, both of these materials have a large carbon footprint. While cultures around the world have built with wood for centuries, recent advances in wood-based building materials and construction techniques have made it possible to use wood even in large-scale projects. However, as expected with a new building material some constrains have still to be overcome. For my thesis, I desired to explore these issues through the design of a tall building using timber as its main structural material.

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