Guidelines for Design of Low-Rise Buildings Subjected to Lateral Forces is a concise guide that identifies performance issues, concerns, and research needs associated with low-rise buildings. The book begins with an introduction that discusses special problems with low-rise buildings subjected to wind and earthquakes. Chapter 2 examines probabilistic methods and their use in evaluating risks from natural hazards. It also addresses the characteristics of wind and seismic forces and levels of risk implied by building codes. Wind forces are covered in more detail in Chapter 3, with discussions of wind force concepts and wind-structure interactions. Chapter 4 is devoted to earthquake forces and traces the development of building codes for earthquake resistant design. Chapter 5 describes the main framing systems used to resist lateral forces and discusses the code requirements for drift control. The designs and requirements for connections between building elements are addressed in Chapter 6. It includes examples along with several illustrations of suitable connections. The performance of non-structural elements during wind and earthquake forces is also examined in detail. This book serves as an important reference for civil engineers, construction engineers, architects, and anyone concerned with structural codes and standards. It is an excellent guide that can be used to supplement design recommendations and provide a design basis where there are no current requirements.

A concise guide to the structural design of low-rise buildings in cold-formed steel, reinforced masonry, and structural timber This practical reference discusses the types of low-rise building structural systems, outlines the design process, and explains how to determine structural loadings and load paths pertinent to low-rise buildings. Characteristics and properties of materials used in the construction of cold-formed steel, reinforced masonry, and structural timber buildings are described along with design requirements. The book also provides an overview of noncomposite and composite open-web joist floor systems. Design code requirements referenced by the 2009 International Building Code are used throughout. This is an ideal resource for structural engineering students, professionals, and those preparing for licensing examinations. Structural Design of Low-Rise Buildings in Cold-Formed Steel, Reinforced Masonry, and Structural Timber covers: Low-rise building systems Loads and load paths in low-rise buildings Design of cold-formed steel structures Structural design of reinforced masonry Design of structural timber Structural design with open-web joists

Explains the sources of nonstructural earthquake damage in simple terms, and provides information on effective methods of reducing the potential risks. Intended for a lay audience: building owners, facilities managers, maintenance personnel, store or office managers, corporate/agency department heads, business proprietors, homeowners. Covers: building utility systems (batteries, piping, chillers); architectural elements (stairways, windows, exterior signs); and furniture and contents (library stacks, artwork, stoves, cabinets, etc.). Drawings and photos. Glossary and bibliography.

Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) is a structural design methodology that has become more common in urban centers around the world, particularly for the design of high-rise buildings. The primary benefit of PBSD is that it substantiates exceptions to prescribed code requirements, such as height limits applied to specific structural systems, and allows project teams to demonstrate higher performance levels for structures during a seismic event.However, the methodology also involves significantly more effort in the analysis and design stages, with verification of building performance required at multiple seismic demand levels using Nonlinear Response History Analysis (NRHA). The design process also requires substantial knowledge of overall building performance and analytical modeling, in order to proportion and detail structural systems to meet specific performance objectives.This CTBUH Technical Guide provides structural engineers, developers, and contractors with a general understanding of the PBSD process by presenting case studies that demonstrate the issues commonly encountered when using the methodology, along with their corresponding solutions. The guide also provides references to the latest industry guidelines, as applied in the western United States, with the goal of disseminating these methods to an international audience for the advancement and expansion of PBSD principles worldwide.