You are encouraged to attend the defence. The details of the defence and attendance information is included below:  

Date: April 7, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (PT)

Defence mode: Remote 
Virtual Attendance: via Zoom 

LINK TO JOIN: Please contact the Office of Graduate Administration for information regarding remote attendance for online defences. 

To ensure the defence proceeds with no interruptions, please mute your audio and video on entry and do not inadvertently share your screen. The meeting will be locked to entry 5 minutes after it begins: please ensure you are on time.  

Thesis entitled: A FRAMEWORK FOR DAMAGE INDEX CALCULATION IN LIGHT WOOD-FRAME BUILDINGS

Abstract: Seismic events present significant challenges to the structural performance of buildings, with light wood-frame structures being particularly susceptible due to their unique material variability, reliance on non-structural components, and diverse construction practices. Existing seismic damage models, such as the Park and Ang Damage Index (DI), have demonstrated utility for steel and concrete structures but remain underdeveloped and unvalidated for light wood-frame buildings. This research addresses these gaps by proposing a global-level calibration framework for the β parameter in the Park and Ang DI model, tailored specifically for light wood-frame structures. Unlike traditional component level calibration, the global approach emphasizes system-level behavior, capturing the cumulative effects of deformation and energy dissipation across the entire structure.

The study integrates experimental data from benchmark tests conducted independent of this study scope, the NEESWood project, to validate the accuracy of the calculated DI values against observed damage patterns. By correlating DI values with actual damage, the research establishes a comprehensive and validated methodology for assessing seismic damage in light wood-frame buildings. 

Furthermore, the proposed framework provides valuable insights into the progression of damage under varying seismic intensities, offering thresholds that link DI values with observed structural and non-structural damage. These findings significantly advance the practical application of the Damage Index framework for light wood-frame structures, contributing to performance-based seismic design and risk assessment efforts.

Defence Committee:  
Chair: Dr. Erik Jensen
Supervisor: Dr. Asif Iqbal
Committee Member: Dr. Shahria Alam
Committee Member: Dr. Sifat Muin
External Examiner: Dr. Ahmed Hamada