Research Report Outline

Project:

My research project is to determine economically feasible methods of improving the seismic integrity of wood frame structures in North America. These methods will involve new structures being built as well as existing structures and possible ways of upgrading them.

Method:

• Gather information from multiple different sources on civil and seismic engineering technology currently available.

• Gather information on previous incidents regarding structural failures due to earthquakes of wood framed structures and reasons for their failures’.

• Research records on historic seismic activity in North American zones.

• Research the cost effectiveness of making changes of current construction practices, and upgrading existing buildings.

• Use this information to develop a report which will cover the methods and technologies available for improving seismic integrity of wood framed structures,

and determine the most feasible methods and technologies, both economically and practically, available for use in north America.

Special Problems:

• Can the same methods and technologies be used in different seismic zones, or will the need to be altered to cover the different seismic patterns of that area.

• Will the costs of the proposed upgrades be acceptable to the consumer?

How much is too much?

• Would the effective lifespan of the upgrades match the expected lifespan of the existing structure?

• Would there be any conflicts between the proposed upgrades and the current building code? How could they be resolved?

Also:

• Who is going to be the primary reader of this report?

How much knowledge of this report will they already be aware of or require to understand it?

• Are certain locations in North America more effected by seismic activity than others? Acquiring more historical data on earthquake events such as frequency, damages may help locate a more specific location.

References:

Books:

- James E Ambrose, and Dimitry Vergun, Design for earthquakes. New York: John Wiley, 1999.

- James Ambrose, Simplified building design for wind and earthquake forces.

New York : John Wiley, 1995.

Donald E Breyer, Design of wood structures--ASD/LRFD, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007,

Bungale S. Taranath, Wind and earthquake resistant buildings: structural analysis and design, New York: Marcel Dekker, 2005.

Washington, D.C: National Academies Press, 2003, Preventing earthquake disasters, Research agenda for the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES)

Journals/Articles:

London: Imperial College Press, Journal of earthquake engineering : JEE

-S Perkins, “Rocking the House: Seismic tests of a life-size, wood home”

Science News –Washington, (December 23, 2006), 414-415

-Enr -New York, “Seismic Research: Test of woodframed house shows costly damage”, (January 1, 2007), 14