LVL Portal Frame Design

Warwick Banks
Technical Manager
 Key Discussion Points
Timber portal frames
Benefits of timber based systems
Timber portal frame design
Purlin Design
Moment resisting connection design
Portal Suite Design Tools
 Timber based Portal Frames
Specification limited by:
Perception and reliability
Product awareness
Up-skilling requirements
Engineers
Fabricators
Riggers/Erectors
Benefits of timber systems
Aesthetics
Environmental green solution from a
renewable resource and is carbon storing
Corrosion resistant (Indoor pools, fertiliser
& compost storage, etc)
Compatibility
Usability
 Design Criteria and Loading
Design criteria based on structure type not material type
Loading in accordance with relevant loading standards
Footing and bracing design similar to steel systems
Optimal member spans and bay spacings are different for
timber and steel
 Purlin Design
Two distinct options with timber based systems
Solid sections
hySPAN or MSG for spans up to 6.0 m
Ease of connection with proprietary brackets
Composite I-beams
Use products such as hyJOIST for spans 6.0m to 12.0m
Lateral restraint systems and connections require specific
design
 Purlin Design
Design requirements include
serviceability and strength checks for:
Dead load
Live load
Wind loading
Associated combinations
Provide resistance to lateral torsional
buckling of the Portal Frame members
 Serviceability
Timber components require consideration of shear
deflection
Solid sections include a 5% allowance for shear
deflection within Modulus of Elasticity
For single span built-up sections shear deflection can
be expressed as: *
M
shear =
GAw
Duration of load factor for loads in excess of 12 months
 Wind loading
Includes allowance for local pressure factors
Pierce fixed sheeting provides continuous lateral
restraint to top of purlin
Lateral restraint systems to the compression edge
provide increased resistance to lateral torsional
buckling
 Uplift Strength Capacity for I-beams
Stability factor k8 calculated based on tension edge
continuously restrained by roof sheeting
Use Equation C7 of NZS 3603 for Euler Buckling
Moment
2
D 2
2
(EI y ) + yo + GJ
4 Lay
ME =
(2. yo + yh )
For Solid Sections use Eqn. 3.6 to calculate
slenderness coefficient d
S1 = 3
b
 I-beam Strength
Bending capacity of an I-beam based on stresses in
critical flange due to bending
Bending moment capacity based on lever arm action
around the centriod of area of the flanges
Tension flange is not susceptible to buckling therefore:
For k8 0.73 (ft/ fc)
Mbx = k1 ft Af D1 x 10-6 kNm
For k8 < 0.73
Mbx = k1 k8 fc Af D1 x 10-6 kNm
 Connection Design
Ensure structural integrity of rafter and purlin
Abide by nailing spacings, end and edge distances
Connection needs to be practical and easy to fabricate
and install
Available options for I-beams
Joist Hangers
Require installation of web packers/stiffeners can be costly
Also requires use of suitable joist hangers
Purlin connection blocks
Ease of fabrication
Quick installation
 Portal Frame Design
Elastic Structural Analysis differs little to that applied to
steel except for material and section properties
Solid sections include a 5% allowance within Modulus
of Elasticity removing need for consideration of shear
deflection
Rigid connection achieved by nailed or screwed
plywood or steel gussets
Serviceability limits similar to steel where consideration
of cladding and absolute limits is required
Effects of creep for long term deflection need to be
taken into account
Selection of critical moments
1

4 Critical design actions:

1. Rafter moment
3 2. Column moment
3. Gusset moment
4 4. Nail group moment

2
 Design Actions
Critical design actions need to account for the
effect of duration of load factors
Consider B.M.D to establish critical load case
for design
Combined bending and compression
Combined bending and tension
Typically for solid timber portal frames axial
loads are not critical and are insignificant.
 Gusset Specification
Plywood or X-Banded gussets advantageous:
Ease of fabrication
Readily fixed using machine driven nails.
Reduce the tendency of the long band plies to split,
allowing the nail spacing to be governed by the grain
direction of the rafter or column.
Plywood is readily available in Stress Grade F11 in
thicknesses up to 25 mm.
For large span portal frames CHH have developed 4 x-
band hySPAN sheets (2400x1200) in a 42mm
thickness allowing 28 mm (8 plies) of parallel plies.
 Gusset Design
Gusset Capacity is based on the critical depth at which the gusset
bends, which is a horizontal line across the centroid of the rafter
and column intersection
Geometrically the critical section for the knee connection may be
calculated by:
LD
Depthcs = D +
D
1 + 1 tan
2L

Bending moment capacities drive gusset design

Axial and shear forces generally do not influence the thickness of
the gusset
 Knee Gusset Design
Many Timber Designers propose different methods for calculating
gusset capacities
Batchelor proposes bilinear stress distribution
Hutchings (and Milner) propose design capacity based on triangular
stress distribution
These methodologies have been applied to many buildings
Hutchings methodology based on linear stress distribution and
applies plywood moment capacity equation
Hutchings proposes use of size effect factor (k11 from AS 1720 or
k24 from NZS 3603)
Since gussets are in pairs:
te .d 2
M ni = 2..k1.k8 .k 24 .k14 .k15 . f pb .
6
 Nail Ring Design
Nail groups subjected to combined actions including bending, axial
and shear forces.
Efficient to calculate the maximum force in the extreme nail and
deduct the moment contribution from the capacity
The remaining capacity can then be considered for the resolution
of shear and axial forces.
Complexity of calculations for the nail ring mean hand calculations
can be time consuming and conservative.
Computer packages are often employed to develop design
solutions CHH tables:
Engineering Bulletin No.2 Rigid Moment Connections using CHH
veneer based products
Moment Joint design Nails or screws
Adaptation of NZS 3603 eq 4.3, 4.7

k n
M =
r max
Q k
i=1
ri 2

Qk= characteristic strength of fastener

ri= distance to the ith fastener from the centroid of the fastener group
rmax= the maximum value of ri
k = product of modification factors
Portal Suite - Design tools for engineers
Fully worked design example of a 30 m clear span building
Design tools to suit buildings ranging from 20+ m clear span
Engineering Bulletin No.1 Strength Limit States Design Capacity
Tables for CHH LVL Sections
Engineering Bulletin No.2 Rigid Moment Connections using CHH
veneer based products
Engineering Bulletin No.3 Purlin Span Tables for hyJOIST
Dynamic web page with industry links and current projects
Real prices of different sized projects to promote price
compatibility with alternative material designs
Engineering support from experienced timber design engineers
 Portal Suite - Provide the right range
of products
New hySPAN sizes
900x90 hySPAN
X-BAND LVL Sheets for knee and ridge gusset
connection
X-BAND LVL for building spans over and above 30 m
2 X-band 42 mm hySPAN
4 X-band 63 mm hySPAN
Solid sections without printing.
 Portal Suite
Continual release of tools beginning
September 2008 via website:
www.chhwoodproducts.co.nz/engineerszone
Leave business card and tools will be sent out
upon release
Contact Warwick or Cameron on 0800 808 131
regarding confidential discussions about
current and future projects
 Thanks for your time
Any questions?
Coming soon
www.chhwoodproducts.co.nz/engineerszone