INNOVATION July-August 2016

f ea t u r e s

L eft : A University of British Columbia- and FPInnovations- designed timber--steel hybrid building. R ight : A shake-table test showed deformation and energy dissipation of the timber frame of a hybrid building were governed by the inelastic deformation of the connections.

Okanagan campuses, including the 18-storey student residence being built this year (See page 17), are examples. The university also leads in research into effective use of wood in mid- and high-rise buildings. For example, at the university, we collaborated with FPInnovations to develop a hybrid structure that incorporates cross-laminated timber infill shear panels within steel moment resisting frames. The project included development and analytical validation of a number of tests, models and methods to measure the building’s structural and life-safety performance. Tests assessed the connections between the wood-based panels and steel frames, and novel tube-type connections to eliminate damage in the timber, an iterative direct displacement-based design method, and a force-based design guideline for the building were developed. The results indicate how effective the proposed hybrid building would be, as well as improvements in its seismic performance. Such research into structural and life-safety building performance and building systems—undertaken in BC and elsewhere—is key to laying sound foundations of evidence and information on which building code amendments and revisions are based. As alternative construction techniques, wood-based

Since graduation, you’ve upgraded your computer, your cell phone and probably even your car. What about you? Isn’t it time you thought about upgrading your knowledge and skills? Upgrade — your way — with an on-line Master’s program. The on-line Master’s program in Electric Power Engineering in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, o€ers advanced, state-of-the-art, training in Electric Power Engineering. The Program is designed for engineering personnel from the electric power industry, electrical engineering graduates, and other professionals looking to upgrade and accelerate their career in the power and energy sector. The program o€ers a full spectrum of courses, o€ered over three terms each year, which are relevant to the power industry. Courses are taught by world-class faculty members from the Department’s Power & Energy Systems Group; one of the best power engineering research groups in North America. Program Information One of the following three program options is available to all program participants: » Master of Engineering (MEng) in Electric Power Engineering : Awarded on completion of 9 courses » Graduate Diploma (GDip) in Electric Power Engineering : Awarded on completion of 6 courses » Certificate of Completion : Awarded on completion of a single course. The MEng and GDip Programs are fully approved by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies. For more information on course schedules, fees, and other details, please visit ece.uwaterloo.ca/onlineMEng . materials, and new technologies are developed and shown to perform to code standard, the ceilings on maximum allowable heights of wood-frame and timber–hybrid buildings will rise. v For the last six years, Dr. Tesfamariam, P.Eng., has led the development of timber-based hybrid structures at the School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Okanagan. The work is supported through NEWBuildS—a multi-disciplinary NSERC strategic research network for engineered wood-based building systems—and Forestry Innovation Investment. His research interests include protecting civil infrastructure and structural systems from hazards. Dr. Tesfamariam presents at APEGBC’s 2016 Annual Conference, October 20–21, in Victoria, BC. His session will include research and modelling results for the hybrid building discussed here.

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