Identifies a number of alternative materials or building systems that can be used in residential construction under most current building codes, as well as emerging technologies that should be commercially available in the near future. Covers: steel framing, concrete systems, foam core structural sandwich panels, engineered wood products, and a host of emerging technologies, including: plastics, gridcore, scrimber, and more. 28 drawings and photos.

Presents 3 alternative technologies for conventional residential construction: foam-core structural sandwich panels, light-gauge metal framing, and welded-wire sandwich panels. The feasibility, quality, and costs associated with each method are evaluated. By evaluating the design and construction of homes with alternative materials, this report will stimulate builders to investigate building materials options more thoroughly. Background chapter discusses the use and costs of lumber in residential construction. Directory section. 75 tables and photos.

The prime purpose of this book is to serve as a design is of considerable value in helping the classroom text for the engineering or architec student make the transition from the often sim ture student. It will, however, also be useful to plistic classroom exercises to problems of the designers who are already familiar with design real world. Problems for solution by the student in other materials (steel, concrete, masonry) but follow the same idea. The first problems in each need to strengthen, refresh, or update their capa subject are the usual textbook-type problems, bility to do structural design in wood. Design but in most chapters these are followed by prob principles for various structural materials are lems requiring the student to make structural similar, but there are significant differences. planning decisions as well. The student may be This book shows what they are. required, given a load source, to find the magni The book has features that the authors believe tude of the applied loads and decide upon a set it apart from other books on wood structural grade of wood. Given a floor plan, the student design. One of these is an abundance of solved may be required to determine a layout of struc examples. Another is its treatment of loads. This tural members. The authors have used most of book will show how actual member loads are the problems in their classes, so the problems computed. The authors have found that students, have been tested.