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The structural design of timber elements is based on permissible stresses and deflections
derived from elastic theory.
Members subject to bending (i.e. beams) are assumed to behave in accordance with elastic
bending theory provided that the permissible material stresses are not exceeded. The bending
expression can be applied to timber design:
At any point across a section of a beam which is located a distance y from the neutral axis of a
section, a stress f will be developed as a consequence of applying a bending moment M to the
section. The magnitude of the stress developed will vary with the second moment of area of
the section I.
In the timber design code, is the designation for stress, hence the above equation may be
written as:
M/I = /y
In timber design generally rectangular sections are used, therefore the maximum compressive
and tensile bending stress will occur at the extreme f ibres. Thus y is equal to half the depth of
the section.
As both I and y are geometric properties of the section it is convenient to combine the two
terms in a single property which is referred to as the elastic modulus and denoted by the
symbol Z.
Z = I/y
Further, as rectangular sections are being considered, if b is the width of the section and h the
depth then I and y may be expressed as:
Considering, from the bending expression, M/I = /y and combining with the definition of
elastic modulus then:
M = Z
This can be rearranged to determine the maximum bending stress in the beam and then
compared with the permissible stress that the beam may carry.
The other checks required to timber beams are shear, bearing, deflection and the maximum
depth to breadth ratio.
As the beams are simply supported, and generally carry uniformly distributed loads, shear will
be a maximum at the supports.
3 Load
Maximum shear stress = –
2 Cross-sectional area
The end bearing area is dependent on the contact area with the beam support.
Load Load
Maximum bearing stress = =
Contact area width of beam bearing length
Both of these values can then be compared with the permissible values obtained from the
design code.
Unlike other construction materials, timber cannot be mixed to a pre -determined formula. The
cut wood has to be inspected and graded by visual or mechanical means. The design code
allows for a number of strength classes based on the inspection of the timber, or alternatively,
if the species of timber is known it may be classified as given in Table 8 of the code according
to its standard name.
Appropriate grade stresses are assigned to the graded timber . For flexure the appropriate grade
stresses are:
Account must also be taken of the loading and exposure conditions that the timber will be
subject to. The design code lists almost thirty factors that can be applied to the grade stresses.
Only a few will be of concern in this course.
Modification factors
Duration of loading K 3
The grade stresses based on the strength classes of the timber apply to long -term loading on the
structural element. Table 14 gives a modification factor for various load durations and list
values of K 3 varying from 1.0 to 1.75. K 3 is applied to the grade stresses only and does not
apply to the modulus of elasticity.
Load-sharing systems K 8
A load-sharing system may be considered as being, for example, a series of four or more floor
joists connected by flooring in such a way that act together – a standard timber floor. Provided
that the joists are no farther apart than 610 mm centres then the grade stresses should be
modified by the modification factor K 8 =1.1.
For all other systems K 8 may be taken as being equal to 1.0.
For load-sharing systems the mean modulus of elasticity should be used to calculate any
deflections except in circumstances where dynamic loads may occur, e.g. gymnasia, whe re the
minimum value should be used.
Depth factor K 7
The grade stresses based on the strength classes of the timber apply to materials having a depth
(h) of 300 mm. A modification factor K 7 is applied to the grade bending stress of beams
having a depth other than 300 mm.
Note: Beams with notches on the top edge are not considered in this unit.
Deflection
The deflection is acceptable if the deflection of the fully loaded beam does not exceed 0.003
times the span of the member or 14mm whichever is the lesser.
Boarding
Check the suitability of 20mm tongued and grooved floor boarding spanning between 50mm
250mm timber joists at 600mm centres. T he boards are of strength class C14.
Note that boarding is normally provided in lengths up to 3m long. Each board spans over a
number of joists and for analysis purposes may be treated as a continuous beam.
The maximum moment occurs at an internal suppo rt and may be found using M = wL 2 /10. The
maximum shear force (reaction) occurs at the outside support and may be taken as V= 0.4wL.
Additional data:
Dead load inclusive of self-weight of boards 0.15 kN/m 2
Imposed load 1.5 kN/m 2
Solution
Consider a width of boarding (b) = 1m b=1000 mm
(Actual width of floor is immaterial if width of one metre is assumed)
Length between supports L = 600mm = 0.6m
Load on boarding w =dead + imposed = 0.15 + 1.5 = 1.65 kN/m 2
Considering a typical 1m width of board b=1.65 1 = 1.65 kN/m
Bending
Permissible stress =
grade bending stress parallel to the grain K 2 K 3 K 7 K 8
Shear
3V 3 0.4 103
Maximum shear stress v = = = 0.03 N/mm 2
2bh 2 1000 20
Permissible stress =
grade shear stress parallel to the grain K 2 K 3 K 8
Deflection
E mean from Table 7 – C14 (one board cannot act on its own) E = 6800 N/mm 2
Floor joists
The floor joists for the boarding example above also require to be checked. It may be assumed
that the joists are simply supported over a span of 3.6 m and bear on to blockwork supports
100 mm wide. The revised dead load to include for the self -weight of the beam may be taken
as 0.34 kN/m 2 . The joists are strength class C16.
Solution
Centres of joists 600mm = 0.6m
Bending
The assumption is that the floor boards are of sufficient length to distribute the load over at
least four joists.
Shear
Grade stress from Table 7 – compression perpendicular to the grain – 2.2 N/mm 2
Two values of compression perpendicular to the grain are given in Table 7. Which value
should be used? Reference should be made to Note 1 of the table.
Deflection
E mean from Table 7 – C14 (one board cannot act on its own) E = 8800 N/mm 2
I =bh 3 /12 = 50 250 3 /12 = 65.1 10 6 mm4
= 5wL 4 /384EI = 5 1.1 3600 4 /(384 8800 65.1 10 6 ) = 4.2 mm
Notches
If the beam is notched at the support, then the shear cross -sectional area is reduced and the
modification factor K 5 applies (see clause 2.10.4).
Consider the above beam with a 75mm notch on the underside.
As with all structural materials, the design of compression members is dependent on the
slenderness ratio.
L e = effective length is found using Table 18, which lists for conditions of end restraint, the
ratio of L e /L, where L is the actual length.
i is the radius of gyration of the section. As only solid rectangular sections will be dealt with,
there are two possible axes of buckling, x–x and the y–y. Hence there are two values of
slenderness ratio:
x = L ex /i x y = L ey /i y
Where I (for a rectangular section) = bh 3 /12 I x =bh 3 /12 and I y =hb 3 /12
Area A = bh
The permissible stress is based on the comments of clause 2.11.5 which gives two design
procedures:
In both cases the permissible stress is taken as the grade compression stress parallel to the
grain multiplied by the modification factors for moisture content, duration of loading and load
sharing.
In addition for members with a slenderness greater than 5, the above formula is multiplied by
K 12 given in Table 19.
A timber column 200mm 200mm is required to carry a load of 210 kN. The load has been
transferred to the column by timber joists such that the end restraint conditions top and bottom
may be taken as restrained in position but not in direction. The height of column is 2.8 m and
the timber may be taken as strength class C27. The load may be considered as short term.
Solution
As timber is greater than 100mm thick it would be difficult to dry the section, so use wet
stresses. Values found in Table 7 are modified by factor K 2 found in Table 13
From Table 7
c , = compression parallel to the grain = 8.2 N/mm 2 K 2 = 0.6
E min = 8200 N/mm 2 K 2 = 0.8
L e =1.0L = 2800 mm
i= I/A = 57.7 mm
l = L e /i = 2800/57.7 = 48.5 (for both axes) < 180 suitable
Alternatively for Table 19 an equivalent slenderness L e /b may be used for rectangular sections,
in this example 2800/200 = 14
Example
Column forming part of a partition wall
A timber column of 72mm 168mm cross-section supports a medium term axial load of 24 kN.
The column forms part of a partition wall that is 3.9 m high and the columns are arranged such
that there is no load sharing. The column is restrained in position only top and bottom and is
provided with restraining side rails at the third points about the weaker axis. Check the
suitability of strength class C22 to carry the load.
Solution
As there are two differing effective lengths and hence two different slenderness ratios, the
critical axis must be identified
L e = 3.9m L e =1.3m
72 1683
168 723
I = bh 3 /12 Ix = Iy =
12 12
28.45 10 6 mm 4 5.23 10 6 mm 4
48.5 mm 20.8 mm
3900 1300
l = L e /I = 80.4 = 62.5
48.5 20.8
From Table 7
From Table 19 for the ratio value of 867 and l = 80.4 K 12 = 0.51