CHAPTER 6

TIMBER ELEMENTS DESIGN

SIMPLE CROSS-SECTION ELEMENTS

6.1. General design formulas

The capacity of timber elements subjected to different efforts is given by the following
general relationship:
Fi  R ic  Si  m T (6.1)
where: Fi is capacity of massive wood element subjected to “i” effort (compression, bending, shear
a.o.) expressed in N or in Nmm;
R ic - the design strength corresponding to the “i” effort, established function of the wood
species, quality class of timber and exploitation conditions, expressed in N/mm2.
The design strength is determined with the following relationship:
R ic  R i  m ui  m di /  i (6.2)
where: Ri – characteristic strength of timber varying function of wood species and nature of effort
acting on the element, values are given in table 6.1;
mui – working condition coefficient introducing in computation the equilibrium humidity of
wood material. It is defined function of the exploitation microclimate conditions of the designed
structure. Values of the coefficient are given in table 6.2 function of the efforts type and exploitation
classes;
mdi - working condition coefficient established function of the duration of loads acting on
the structure. Values of the coefficient are given in table 6.3 function of the efforts type and the
duration of loads acting on the structure;
i – partial safety coefficient defined function of the acting efforts type, values are given in
table 6.4.
Si – cross section characteristic (area, strength modulus) in mm2 or mm3;
mT – treatment coefficient introducing in design the changes in the “i” effort strength due to
wood preservation methods, elements dimensions and structures exploitation class, values are given
in table 6.5.

Massive wood characteristics strength (N/mm2)

Table 6.1
Flowering ash, Oak, common
Beach, birch, ash
fir tree, larch, Poplaroak, bitter oak,
Symbol

tree, iron wood

No.

Effort type pine accacia

Quality classes
I II III I II III I II III I II III
1 Static bending Rî 24,0 16,8 9,6 20,0 14,0 8,0 40,0 28,0 16,0 45,0 31,5 18,0
Tension parallel to
2 Rt 14,4 8,6 4,3 21,0 12,6 6,3 22,5 13,5 6,8 27,9 16,7 8,4
grains
Compression parallel to
3 Rc ║ 15,0 12,0 4,5 13,8 11,0 4,1 19,8 15,8 5,9 24,0 19,2 7,2
grains
Compression
4 Rc  3,3 3,0 - 3,2 2,9 - 10,4 9,4 - 11,2 10,0 -
perpendicular to grains
5 Shear parallel to grains Rf ║ 3,0 2,7 - 2,7 2,5 - 6,4 5,7 - 5,0 4,5 -
Shear perpendicular to
6 Rf  12,0 10,8 - 10,4 9,4 - 24,0 21,6 - 16,0 14,4 -
grains
 Values of working conditions coefficients mui
Table 6.2
Values of working conditions
coefficients mui for exploitation
No. Effort type Symbol Essence
classes
1 2 3
Resinous
1 Static bending muî 0,75
Broad leaved
Resinous
2 Tension parallel to grains mut 0,90
Broad leaved
Resinous 0,75
3 Compression parallel to grains muc║
Broad leaved 0,70
Resinous
4 Compression perpendicular to grains muc 1,00 0,90 0,70
Broad leaved
Resinous
5 Shear parallel to grains muf║ 0,80
Broad leaved
Resinous
6 Shear perpendicular to grains muf 0,80
Broad leaved
Resinous
7 Elasticity modulus for static bending muE 0,90
Broad leaved

Values of working condition coefficients mdi

Table 6.3
Values of working condition
coefficients mdi for the species:
Effort type Load duration Symbol
resinous, hard broad-
soft broad-leaved leaved
Permanent 0,55 0,60
Bending
Long duration mdî 0,65 0,70
Shear
Short duration 1,00
Permanent 0,80 0,85
Compression Long duration mdc 0,85 0,90
Short duration 1,00
Permanent 0,90 0,95
Tension Long duration mdt 0,95 1,00
Short duration 1,00
Elasticity modulus All classes mdE 1,00

Values of partial safety coefficients  i

Table 6.4
Values of partial safety
No. Effort type Symbol
coefficients  i
1 Bending i 1,10
Tension:
2 - sections without weakening 1,20
t
- sections with weakening 1,40
Compression parallel and perpendicular to
3 c║; c 1,25
grains
Shear parallel to grains
4 - unilateral 1,25
f║
- bilateral 1,10
5 Shear perpendicular to grains f 1,10
 Values of wood treatment coefficient mT
Table 6.5
Exploitation class
No. Treatment proceedings
1 and 2nd
st
3rd
1 Not treated wood 1,00
2 Surface treated 1,00
3 Mass treated wood having 100 mm
thickness, for:
- elasticity modulus; 0,90 0,95
- other characteristics. 0,70 0,85
4 Treated against fire 0,90 0,90

6.2. Elements subjected to tension parallel to the grains

The capacity of timber simple cross-section elements subjected to tension parallel to the
grains Tr, expressed in N, is given by the following general relationship:
Tr  R ct  A net  m T (6.3)
where: R t - design tension strength parallel to grains established function of characteristic wood
c

species strength to tension parallel to grains, quality class of wood and exploitation conditions,
expressed in N/mm2 (see 6.1)
Anet – net cross-section area in mm2, computed as follows:
A net  A gross  A weakenings
where: Agross – the gross cross-section area of the element in mm2;
Aweakenings – the sum of all weakenings areas added on a length of maximum 200 mm,
in mm2;
mT – treatment coefficient of timber.

6.3. Elements subjected to axial compression parallel to grains

The capacity of timber simple cross-section elements subjected to axial compression parallel
to grains Cr, expressed in N, is given by the following general relationship:
C r  R cc  A design  c  m T (6.4)
c
where: R c is the design compression strength parallel to grains established function of wood
species characteristic strength to compression parallel to grains, quality class of wood and
exploitation conditions, expressed in N/mm2 (see table 6.2)
Adesign – design cross-section area in mm2, computed as follows:
- for cross-sections without weakenings or with weakenings not exceeding 25% of
the gross area and not located on element’s sides parallel to buckling design
direction (figure 6.1, a & b): Adesign = Agross;
- for weakenings exceedind 25% of the gross area and located on element’s sides
parallel to buckling design direction (figure 6.1, b): Adesign = 4Anet/3  Agross.
c – buckling coefficient, less than unity, computed as follows:
2
  
for slenderness   75 c  1  0,8   
 100 
3100
for slenderness   75 c 
2
where the slenderness is defined as the ratio between the buckling length of the element and
the radius of inertia (giration) with respect to the considered buckling direction (maximum values
for slenderness are given in table 6.7).
mT – treatment coefficient of wood for compression parallel to grains.
 The buckling lengths of the compressed
bars are established function of supporting
conditions and function of the presence of
several restraints along the element length (table
6.6).
For bars having   10 the buckling
influence is no longer significant, the
relationship for capacity to compression parallel
to grains is: C r  R c  A design  m T . The factors
c

involved in formula have the same significance

as for previous relation.

Figure 6.1. Compressed elements with or

without weakenings

Buckling length for elements subjected to axial compression

Table 6.6
Bearing
No. Bearing type Buckling lengths
symbol

nod i: translaţie şi rotire împiedicate

1 l f  0,65  l
nod k: translaţie şi rotire împiedicate

nod i: translaţie împiedicată şi rotire liberă

2 l f  0,80  l
nod k: translaţie şi rotire împiedicate

nod i: translaţie împiedicată şi rotire liberă

3 lf  l
nod k: translaţie împiedicată şi rotire liberă

nod i: translaţie liberă şi rotire împiedicată

4 l f  1,20  l
nod k: translaţie şi rotire împiedicate

nod i: translaţie liberă şi rotire parţială

5 l f  1,50  l
nod k: translaţie şi rotire împiedicate

nod i: translaţie liberă şi rotire împiedicată

6 l f  2,00  l
nod k: translaţie împiedicată şi rotire liberă
 nod i: translaţie şi rotire liberă
7 l f  2 ,00  l
nod k: translaţie şi rotire împiedicate

Maximum values for slenderness coeficients 

Table 6.7
Slenderness coefficient for:
Elements Definitive Provisional
buildings buildings
Trusses and arches:
150 175
- chords, supports diagonals and studs;
- other elements 175 200
Columns:
120 150
- principal
- secondary and built up column lattices 150 175
Bracings 200

6.4. Elements subjected to axial compression normal to grains

The capacity of timber simple cross-section elements subjected to compression normal to

grains Qr, expressed in N, is given by the general relation:

Q  R A m m
r
c
c c T R
(6.5)

R cc - design compression strength normal to grains established function of wood species
characteristic strength to compression normal to grains, quality class of wood and exploitation
conditions, expressed in N/mm2 (see table 6.1)
Ac – design cross-section area in mm2, the contact area between elements as shown in the
drawing below
 mr – support coefficient established as
follows:
- for elements having the contact
area equal to the compressed
element area and for joints
with lateral cuts (fig. 6.2, a, b)
mr = 1,00;
- for supporting elements (fig.
6.2, c, d) and if a  h and a 
10 cm, for joints with
prismatic wedges (fig. 6.2, e)
and for supporting contact
areas of elements (fig. 6.2, g)
mr = 1,60;
- for crushing under washer mr =
2,00.
mT – treatment coefficient of wood for
compression normal to grains.

Figure 6.2. Supporting examples for elements

perpendicularly located or under an angle  ; elements
subjected to shear
6.5. Elements subjected to biaxial crushing

The crushing capacity, Nr, when compression force is applied under an angle  (fig. 6.2, f) is
given by relationship:
N r  Rcc,  Astr  mT (6.6)
where: Rc , is the design compression strength under ungle , in N/mm ;
c 2

Astr – crushing area or contact area between the two elements;

 is the angle between the compression force and grains direction on the crushed element.

6.6. Elements subjected to shear normal to grains

The capacity of simple cross section timber elements subjected to shear normal to grains, V r,
expressed in N, is given by relation:

V  R A m
r
c
f f T
(6.7)

where R cf  is the design shear strength normal to grains established function of wood species
characteristic strength to shear normal to grains, quality class of wood and exploitation conditions,
expressed in N/mm2 (table 6.1)
Af is the area of sheared cross-section in mm2, the area of element carrying the effort (figure
6.2, e & i).
mT – treatment coefficient of wood for shear normal to grains.
 6.7. Elements subjected to shear parallel to grains

The capacity of simple cross section timber elements subjected to shear parallel to grains, F r,
expressed in N, is given by relation:
Fr  R cf   A f  m T / m f (6.8)
c
where R f  is the design shear strength parallel to grains established function of wood species
characteristic strength to shear parallel to grains, quality class of wood and exploitation conditions,
expressed in N/mm2 (table 6.1)
Af is the area of sheared cross-section in mm2;
mT – treatment coefficient of wood for shear normal to grains.
m f  1   p / e where:
 is a coefficient with values: 0,25 for unilateral shear and 0,125 for bilateral shear;
p - shear treshold length limited at 10xhch, in mm;
e – shear for eccentricity with respect to the treshold direction.

6.8. Elements subjected to bending

The capacity of simple cross section timber elements subjected to bending, Mr, expressed in
Nmm, is given by relation:
M r  R ic  Wdesign  m T (6.9)
c
where R i is the design bending strength established function of wood species characteristic
strength to bending, quality class of wood and exploitation conditions, expressed in N/mm2;
Wdesign is the section modulus in mm3 (Wgross for cross sections without weakenings and Wnet
for weakened cross-sections);
mT – treatment coefficient of wood for bending.
For elements subjected to bending, the deflection check is necesarry:
f max,final  f allowable where: fmax,final is the maximum deflection established as follows:
f max,final  f1  f 2  f i  f c (6.10)
f1 – deflection due to dead loads taking into account the equilibrium humidity and the creep
of timber: f1  f1,inst  1  k def  ;
f1,inst – the deflection for simple supported beam computed using the unfactored dead loads
for gross cross-section of the element and considering the mean value of the modulus of elasticity.
f2 – deflection due to temporary loads taking into account the equilibrium humidity and the
creep of timber: f 2  f 2,inst  1  k def  ;
f2,inst – the deflection for simple supported beam computed using the unfactored temporary
loads for gross cross-section of the element and considering the mean value of the modulus of
elasticity.
fi – deflection due to creep of wood in joints;
fc – the initial unloaded counter deflection (if the case).
The values of kdef coefficient are given in table 6.8 function of loads duration and the
exploitation class for timber elements.
fallowable – the allowable deflection, the values are given in table 6.9.

Values of kdef coefficients

Table 6.8
Exploitation classes
Load duration
1 and 2nd
st
3rd
Permanent 0,50 1,00
Long duration 0,25 0,50
Short duration 0,00 0,00
 Maximum allowable deflections for timber elements
Table 6.9
Maximum allowable deflections for timber
elements related to span
No. Element type
Definitive buildings Provisional
buildings
Floor beams:
1. - cu finisaj din lemn; lc / 250 lc / 200
- cu finisaj din tencuială. lc / 300 lc / 250
Roof:
- roof planckings; lc / 150
2.
- purlins & rafters; lc / 200 lc / 150
- valley purlins. lc / 400 lc / 300
Columns and beams in walls with:
3. - wood furnish; lc / 250 lc / 200
- other type of furnish. lc / 300 lc / 250
Trusses with:
4. - metalic connections; lc / 400 lc / 350
- other connestions ; lc / 500 lc / 400
5. Glulam beams lc / 500

6.9. Elements subjected to bending – capacity of bent elements to sliding

The capacity of bent timber elements to sliding in the areas near the supports in the plain
determined by neutral axis, Lr, in N, is given by relation:
L r  R cf   b  I  m T / S (6.11)
c
where R f  is the design shear strength parallel to grains established function of wood species
characteristic strength to shear parallel to grains, quality class of wood and exploitation conditions,
expressed in N/mm2 (see 1.1)
b is the cross-section width;
I – gross moment of inertia of cross-section with respect to neutral axis perpendicular to
applied load, in mm4;
mT – treatment coefficient of wood for shear parallel to grains;
S – static moment of the sliding section with respect to neutral axis, given in mm3.

6.10. Elements subjected to biaxial bending

The checking relation is:

M efx M efy
 x  y  1,00 (6.12)
Mr Mr
where: M ef and M ef are the effective bending moments components corresponding to main axes
x y

of inertia of the element x-x and y-y, established function of loading scheme and the design length
of the element, expressed in Nmm;
M rx and M ry are bending capacities corresponding to main axes of inertia of the element
x-x and y-y, established function of the relationships for elements subjected to simple bending.
The final deflection for elements subjected to biaxial bending is computed by vectorial
summation of the maximum deflections corresponding to main directions as follows:
f max,final  f x
max,final
 2
  f max,
y
final
2
  f allowable
x y
where: f max,final and f max,final are established with relationship 6.10;
fallowable – allowable deflection with values given in table 6.9.

6.11. Eccentrically tensioned elements

 The verification relation is:
T M
 ef  ef  1,0 (6.13)
Tr Mr
where: Tef is effective axial tension effort, in N;
Tr – axial tension capacity, in N;
Mef – effective bending moment established function of loads, given in Nmm;
Mr – bending capacity of timber element, in Nmm.

6.12. Eccentrically compressed members

The verification relation is:

C Mf
 ef  ef  1,0 , (6.14)
Cr Mr
where: Cef is effective compression effort, in N;
Cr – compression capacity of timber elements, in N, established with relation 6.4;
M fef - maximum final bending moment established function of loads, in Nmm;
Mr – bending capacity of element, in Nmm.

Fig. 6.3. Eccentrically compressed element

The effective final bending moment is established taking into account the secondary bending
moment produced by compression force acting eccentrically:

 
 
1
 M ef  
, (6.15)
M fef
 C ef
1 
 CE 
where: Mef is maximum effective bending moment in Nmm;
Cef – effective compression in timber elemen, in N;
CE – compression effort, in N, given by:
C E  2  E 0 , 05  m uE  m T  I / 2f , (6.16)
2
where: E0,05 is characteristic elasticity modulus function of wood species, in N/mm ;
muE – working coefficient function of wood species and the exploitation class of timber
elements ;
mT – treatment coefficient for elasticity modulus;
I – moment of inertia, in mm4 ;
lf – buckling length, in mm.

6.13. Sliding check of eccentrically compressed elements

The check relation is:

L r  Lfef , (6.17)
where: Lr is sliding capacity established with relation (6.11), în N;
Lfef - maximum shear force, in N.