Wood in Buildings and Bridges

Wood in Buildings and Bridges online course is part of our Structural Course Category. In this 1 hour PDH online course, the features of various types of building systems are described. Emphasis is placed on how these systems have adapted to the use of modern materials and techniques. For example, where floor, wall, and roof sheathing for light-frame construction were once commonly made from wood boards, sheathing is now commonly made from structural panel products, such as plywood and oriented strandboard (OSB). Compared with boards, these panel products are quicker to install and provide improved structural resistance to wind and earthquake loadings. Furthermore, prefabricated floor and wall panels along with prefabricated roof and floor trusses or I-joists are replacing piece-by-piece on-site construction with dimension lumber. A structure can be enclosed within a short time on site using factory-made panelized systems.

Engineered wood products are being used increasingly for transportation structures. A brief description of the uses of wood in railroad and highway bridges and other transportation structures is included.

This course is based on Chapter 17 of the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL–GTR–190 “Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material”.

This course is intended for use by civil and structural engineers, design and construction professionals, students and others interested in learning about use of wood in buildings and bridges.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain various form of construction used in light frame building and its components
• Describe post-frame and pole buildings
• Explain basics of log buildings construction
• Understand design and construction of buildings built with heavy timber construction
• Explain the glulam and other composite wood type of construction
• Discuss use of timber in bridge construction
• Describe use of wood in thermal, air, moisture, and sound control