1.

The SEAOC Seismic Design Manuals ~ $170 (3 volumes)

2. SERM ~ $150
3. Seismic and Wind Forces, Structural Design Examples ~ $75
4. 2009 Design of Reinforced Masonry Structures (CMACN) ~ $100

Steel Gravity: example problems from the AISC 360 CD.
Steel Lateral: seismic design manual
Masonry Gravity: SERM covers it "ok", Amreihn book is really good for oop forces
.
Masonry Lateral: See no. 4 above.
Concrete Gravity and Lateral: The PCA Notes is very comprehensive. For a quick
reference on detailing concrete, I recommend no. 3 above. The simple pictures
of SMF beams and columns really helps. For a more comprehensive of concrete lat
eral, use the SEAOC Volume 3 and the seismic chapter of the PCA Notes.
Wood Gravity: SERM is good enough.
Wood Lateral: I personally don't think there's a good reference out there to co
mprehensively go through this except that the Breyner book has great examples.

All in all, unless a person wants to gamble with their chances of passing, they
should invest (or use their firm's) $1000 into text books and keep them for thei
r career. This exam is not just a means to gain a title, but it should be a mea
ns of becoming a better engineer. So, make the investment in yourself (the inne
r self, not the exterior title), and you will not regret it.
1. Design of Wood Structures by Breyer. Possibly the best material design book e
ver written. It does tackle wood diaphragm theory ad well.
Two questions.
1. I've failed wood on every exam so far for both portions. I've reviewed the ka
plan problems book, NCEES text examples, the NDS examples book, SE I & SE II pra
ctice exams (older versions). Is there any suggestions on other books to study d
iaphragms and shear walls for wood. I'm tired of failing this part.
I used "Timber Design for the Civil and Structural PE Exams" and the solved exam
ple problems that came with the NDS. Keep at it, you'll conquer this thing.
I would say that the wood design aspect of both exams is relatively simple. You
are probably having a tough time with those problems that are incidentally invo
lving wood. What I mean is, when you see a wood-framed building in lateral, you
are probably seeing it as a multi-story wood shearwall building or a single-sto
ry (2-story max) wood diaphragm/glulam/masonry building. The Breyer book does a
n OK job at this, but you need problems that take you thru an entire building.
I would NOT trust the SERM for all the lateral stuff. I would study the SEAOC V
olume 1 and 2 very very thoroughly - it will walk you thru the lateral issues pr
etty well.

If you understand the SEAOC manuals, you will run out of questions to ask...
You also should understand the dowel yield limit equations and why the tables ar
e there... I think these are in chapter 11. It is very possible that you don't
know what goes into all of those equations and you aren't using them correctly.
..

what about the SDPWS 2008? DON'T USE 2005!!!

just a guess...