Modular log structures and methods of constructing same

A modular structure, comprising:

• at least one longitudinally extending stress wall comprised of elongated structural elements disposed in a substantillly vertical stack and including tension and shear support means therein;
• at least two brace wlal means secured to said stress wall means in substantially perpendicular relationship thereto;
• and
• a marriage wall of similar length and disposed in parallel, spaced relationship to said stress wall, said brace wall means being secured to said marriage wall.

A spliced elongated structural element having tension and shear strength characteristics at least equal to a single element of the same material, length and diameter, comprising:

• a first segment having a longitudinally extending notch at one end thereof;
• a second segment having a longitudinally extending point of mating configuration to said notch at one end thereof;
• a slot extending longitudinally into said first segment from the base of said notch;
• a slot extending longitudinally into said second segment from the end of said point, said slots being co-aligned when said point is inserted into said notch;
• a key dimensioned to substantially fill said co-aligned slots when said point is inserted into said notch;
• and
• means to secure said key to said segments and said segments to each other in proximity to said splice.

An alignment system for aligning a building module during placement on another structure, comprising:

• alignment pin means secured to one of said structure or said module, comprising two pin elements spaced along an outer wall;
• alignment bore means in the other of said module or said structure, comprising two alignment bore elements laterally spaced at the same distance as said pin elements and located in an outer wall;
• an alignment block element secured to one of said module or said structure and perpendicularly horizontally removed from said outer wall, whereby a triangle is formed by said three elements;
• and
• an alignment block receiving element associated with the other of said module and said structure and perpendicularly horizontally removed from said outer wall to the same extent and in the same direction as said alignment block element.

A modular structure, comprising:

• a substantially rigid, rectangular, planar floor assembly;
• at least one wall comprising horizontally oriented courses of elongated structural elements disposed in a substantially vertical stack, said element wall being secured to and aligned with one side of said lfoor assembly, and each of said element courses being secured to those above and below;
• first and second brace wall means secured to said floor assembly aligned with two sides of said floor assembly perpendicualr to said one side and secured to said element wall for maintaining said element wall n substantially parpendiular relationship to said floor assembly;
• and
• a marriage wall aligned with and secured to the fourth side of said floor assembly in parallel relationship to said element wall, said marriage wall also being secured to said brace wall means.

A modular structure, comprising:

• at least one longitudinally extending stress wall comprised of elongated structural elements disposed in a substantially vertical stack and including tension and shear support means therein;
• at least wo brace wall means secured to said stress wall means in substantially perpendicualr relationship thereto;
• a substantially rigid, polygonal, planar floor assembly secured to said stress wall and said brace wall means;
• and
• a marriage wall of similar length and disposed in parallel, soaced relationship to said sress wall, said marriage wall being secured to said brace wall means and to said floor assembly.