Recommendations for Earthquake Resistance in the Design and Construction of Woodframe Buildings

The purpose of this report is to document the basis for a series of findings and recommendations regarding the design and construction of woodframe structures resulting from the investigations of the Testing and Analysis, Field Investigations, and Economic Aspects Elements of the Woodframe Project. The findings and recommendations are intended to provide the basis for future modifications to applicable codes, standards, and guidelines, and to provide guidance for improvements to both design and construction practice.

Together, Topical Discussions A, B and C address results and recommendations regarding the dynamic behavior of woodframe buildings and implications for procedures used to analyze, evaluate, and proportion seismic-force-resisting systems. Topical Discussion A discusses building dynamic property information resulting from Woodframe Project research. Topical Discussion A.1 introduces the Woodframe Project research. Topical Discussion A.2 addresses items related to building period, including variables influencing building periods (and in some cases related influences on force and deformation demand), and use of building periods in current code and guideline procedures. Finally, Topical Discussion A.3 discusses damping. Discussions on force and deformation demand and distribution follow in Topical Discussion B and analysis tools in Topical Discussion C.