Anthony C. Jellen

By Anthony C. Jellen and Ali M. Memari

Light-wood framing construction techniques have been traditionally used in America for the construction of single-family residences. Dimensional wood lumber is readily available and due to its convenient unit dimension can be packaged neatly and transported to work sites by either commercial transport or personal vehicle. The unit pieces of dimensional lumber are light and easily handled once on the work site. Design of light-framed single-family homes is typically conducted by an architect or construction contractor using prescriptive building codes. A structural engineer can assist, if needed, with design items not within the scope of the building code or if alternative design approaches are required. An owner may choose to involve the engineer to improve quality or economy of the home design. Engineers typically become involved with design items such as foundation design, steel framing design, or engineered product specification. In this chapter, the design of a typical light-framed home is discussed. The main structural assemblies are described and subsequently designed using a combination of prescriptive guidance and engineering design.

Part of the book: Timber Buildings and Sustainability

By Anthony C. Jellen and Ali M. Memari

Driven by desire to reduce carbon footprint in building construction that in modern times has relied heavily on masonry and concrete whose production is associated with burning excessive amounts of fuel, use of wood offers the ideal alternative. Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is an esthetically pleasing, mass-timber panelized product that offers users a cost-effective, renewable, durable, fire-resistant alternative to traditional building materials, such as masonry, concrete, and light-framing. A significant benefit to developers and community stockholders in the USA is that the raw materials required to produce CLT can be obtained domestically in timber rich rural areas, helping job growth in those areas, shortening supply chains, and reducing reliance on imported materials. The prefabrication process used to fabricate CLT panels provide users of the construction materials access to all the advantages offered by off-site construction methods such as factory quality control, just-in-time delivery, and accelerated construction. In this chapter, the original light-framing system of a traditional style single-family residential dwelling is converted to a panelized CLT structural support system. The chapter provides the basis of design, typical design process, and explains the challenges associated with using the alternative framing system.

Part of the book: Integrative Approaches in Urban Sustainability