Lecture 4

Outline:

Timber Design in accordance with AS1720.1-2010

(Australian Standard for Timber Structures Part 1: Design
Methods)
• Strength of beams in bending

• Strength of beams in flexural shear

• Design of beams for serviceability

• Members under axial compression or

(Column design)

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Timber Design in accordance with AS1720.1-2010
(Australian Standard for Timber Structures Part 1:
Design Methods)

In this lecture, focus will be on Design of Sawn

Timbers under
1. Bending (beam design)
2. Axial Compression (column design)
3. Design of Beams for Servicebility
4. Beam column design (combined actions)
TOWARDS AS1720.1-2010
Timber Design in accordance with AS1720.1-2010
(Australian Standard for Timber Structures Part 1:
Design Methods)
Sets out Limit State Methods for Design of Individual Structural
Elements under different modes of structural actions such as:
• Flexure
• Compression
• Tension
• Combined actions

Deals with:
• Sawn timbers
• Round timbers
• LVL
• Plywood
• Glulam Does not cover engineered products (truss joists)
 Timber Design in accordance with AS1720.1-2010
(Australian Standard for Timber Structures Part 1:
Design Methods)
5.1 BEAM DESIGN

Beam members
are most
commonly in:
• Rafters
• Purlins, battens
• Top and bottom wall
plates
• Lintels
• Wall Studs
• Bearers
• Joists
Note:
TIMBER MUST BE DESIGNED FOR BOTH STRENGTH LIMIT STATE AND SERVICEABILITY.
Strength Limit State Bending Moment Capacity
Design Equation for bending strength

The strength of beams in bending must satisfy the following:

M* is the design action effect (design bending moment based on factored

actions) calculated using one of the structural analysis methods (such as
statics for statically determinate beams, moment distribution method,
computer based matrix approach, plastic analysis etc..)

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Strength Limit State Bending Moment Capacity
Design Capacity
At the strength limit state,
the design capacity is the
moment at which the
beam breaks in two.

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AS1720.1:2010

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Ø is the capacity factor (always a reduction factor).
AS1720.1:2010

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Strength Limit State Bending Moment Capacity
Design Capacity

• f 'b is the characteristic strength of the timber

• f 'b Z is the moment at which the timber will break given
standard conditions
• k factors allow for the effect of service conditions on strength

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 Bending strength f 'b
f 'b is a function of:

 in-grade test data available

• f 'b from supplier or <Appendix H>
 no in-grade data
• f 'b from
• <Table H2.1> F-grades
• <Table H3.1> MGP

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 f’b is the characteristic strength of the timber in bending in (MPa)
AS1720.1:2010

For Bending,
When d ≤ 300 mm, f’b = f’b
When d > 300 mm, f’b = (300/d)0.167

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AS1720.1:2010

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Z is the elastic section modulus of the cross section calculated on net area of member
at point of maximum bending moment.
Use design dimensions:

Seasoned – nominal. ie b (width) and d (depth)

Unseasoned - nominal minus 3mm. ie (b-3) and (d-3)

2
bd
Zx 
6

b2d
Zy 
6

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 M  k1k4 k6 k9 k12 fbZ
• f 'b is the characteristic strength of the timber
• f 'b Z is the moment at which the timber will break given
standard conditions
• k factors allow for the effect of service conditions on strength

k1, k4, k6, k9 and k12 are called modification factors for
timber design and are covered in section 2 ( except k12
in section 3 ) of AS1720.1-2010.

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Duration of load factor k1
k1 for strength
Reduces strength
for long duration loads

Long duration loads reduce strength of timber

Permanent loads - dead and some live loads (eg machinery)

• Continuous loading at high stress levels

stretches fibres and breaks microscopic bonds.

• Each load combination must be considered separately to find k1

k1 taken from the duration of shortest component of each

load combination over the life of the element

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k1, k4, k6, k9 and k12 are called modification factors for timber design and are
covered in section 2 ( except k12 in section 3 ) of AS1720.1-2010.

k1 is the load duration factor

AS1720.1:2010

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k1, k4, k6, k9 and k12 are called modification factors for timber design and are
covered in section 2 ( except k12 in section 3 ) of AS1720.1-2010.

k1 is the load duration factor

AS1720.1:2010 2.4.1.1
5 seconds : Strength limit Gust wind actions and Earthquake
5 days : Imposed actions during erection and maintenance, Fire Limit
State, snow action subalpine area
5 months : Imposed actions that act on floors (vehicle & people), snow
action alpine area
50 or more years: Permanent actions & the long term components of imposed
actions
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AS1720.1:2010

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k4 is the partial seasoning factor, which depends on the equilibrium
moisture content (emc) of timber.

The equilibrium moisture content is the highest value of the annual average
moisture content that the timber will attain in service.

For unseasoned timber ( mc >25%), k4 generally is 1.0.

For mc < 25%, it is permissible to increase the characteristic capacity for

unseasoned timber by multiplying the k4 factor.
AS1720.1:2010

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For seasoned timber (mc <15%),
Cl 2.4.2.3
k4 = 1.0

Where seasoned timber is subjected to conditions in which its average MC

for 12 mths > 15%, the characteristics capacity should decrease.

k4 should he determined as the greater of

k4 = 1- 0.3 *(emc-15)/10 and k4 = 0.7
where, emc = highest annual MC (%) that the timber will attain in service.

Environment Typical equilibrium moisture content

(emc)
External-coastal 14%-18%
External-inland 10%-15%
Indoor-heated 8%-12%
Indoor-air conditioned 8%-10%
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 Partial seasoning factor k4
Simple and Conservative

Seasoned Timber
• Used in protected environments k4 = 1
• Used in moist environments k4 = 0.7

Unseasoned Timber
• k4 = 1
Cl 2.4.2

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k6 is the temperature factor which is taken as 1 unless the element is seasoned
timber in the shaded coastal areas in the map below where it is taken as 0.9.

k6 = 0.9

k6 = 1.0

Cl 2.4.3
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k9 is the factor for strength sharing between parallel members or shortly
the strength sharing factor

Plywood sheeting acting as crossing

members

Parallel floor joists acting as

beams
Cl 2.4.5
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 Strength sharing in bending members
• High variability of timber strength
• Weak members have assistance from strong
members in parallel systems.
Discrete systems Combined systems
Beams in close proximity with grid type Side laminated beams
geometry
• ncom - number of beams directly connected •ncom - number of beams
• nmem - number of beams effectively directly connected
linked by crossing members • nmem = 1

Main beams -
Crossing members k9 used on these
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 pr
Strength Sharing
f ‘b

Single beam Discrete system (grid) Combined

system

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k 9  g31   g32  g31  1 
2 s
 L  Cl 2.4.5.3

s is the centre to centre spacing of the discrete parallel members

L is the span of the effective span of the parallel members
AS1720.1:2010

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 K9 = 1.072

K9 = 1.168

K9 = 1.831

AS1720.1:2010 27
 k12 is the stability factor, which accounts for the effect of
beam slenderness and the lateral torsional buckling
on its strength Cl 3.2.4

Lateral torsional buckling is only possible with major axis bending,

and is prevented by restraint against lateral movement, twisting 28
 Cl3.2.4
Stability factor k12
• Models elastic buckling of beams
• The capacity equation is written in terms of f 'b - material failure.
k12 allows the same expression to be used to model buckling
failure of slender members (limited by E rather than f 'b).

For stocky members (rb S ≤ 10)

k12 = 1.0
(material failure only)

For slender members (rb S > 20) k12 

200
r S
2
(buckling failure) b

In between (10 < rb S ≤ 20) k12 = 1.5-0.05 * ρb S1

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Compression edge restrained
• S1 for discrete lateral restraints @ Lay

S1= 1.25 (d/b) (Lay/d) 0.5

Lay

S1= (d/b)1.35 (Lay/d) 0.25

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• S1 for continuous lateral restraints
IF (Lay/d) ≤ 64 (b/ρbd)2

then S1=0.0

IF (Lay/d) > 64 (b/ρbd)2

S1= 1.25 (d/b) (Lay/d) 0.5

IF (Lay/d) ≤ 64 (b/ρbd)2

then S1= 2.25 (d/b)

IF (Lay/d) > 64 (b/ρbd)2

S1= (d/b)1.35 (Lay/d) 0.25

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• S1 for continuous lateral restraints
and torsional restraints @ La

S1 
1.5 d  b
0.5
  d 2
 
  0.4
 La 
 
 
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 rb Material Constant
f 'b Table 3.1
 Function of
E
 for slender members (buckling) f 'b in 1  (r b)2 cancels
with the one in the design capacity formula leaving the
design capacity a function of E.
 r b also allows for
• Initial curvature of the member,
• Inelasticity of timber (creep buckling).
Different values for seasoned and unseasoned timber.
 To find r b
• Use<Table 3.1> for F-grade timber & MGP

 Note - Different r for compression and bending members

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 AS1720.1:2010

ρb S1 ≤ 10 k12 =1.0

10 ≤ ρb S1 ≤ 20 k12 = 1.5-0.05 * ρb S1

ρb S1 ≥ 20 k12 = 200/ (ρb S1)2

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 Strength of beams in flexural shear Vd ≥ V* Cl 3.2.5

V  k1 k 4 k6 As f 's
, k1, k4 and k6 as previously defined

f’s is the characteristic shear strength

As is the plane shear area of the cross section

As = 2/3 * b *d

V* is the design action effect in shear, taken at (1.5d )

distance from the face of the support.

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 Shear capacity of beams
 Load discounted within 1.5d of support
It is carried by direct
compression to support
d

1.5d
• Shear strength weakest across grain.
– shear failure by splitting parallel to grain

 Shear capacity is usually ample unless the span of the

beam is very short 36
 Serviceability of beams
• The code gives little guidance.
• It gives stiffness of timber (E) and time-
dependent deflections to model creep.
• The serviceability problems in the
performance of beams are:
– Vibration – induced by footfall and/or by
machinery
– Deflection

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 Serviceability of beams
 Deflection limits for beams
• appearance (sagging)
• fitness for purpose (machinery, pipe grades)
• structural (avoid unintended load paths)

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 Design of beams for serviceability
For example
Deflection of simply supported beam due to uniformly distributed load
5 𝑤 𝑙^4
𝛿 = 𝑗2 .
384 𝐸 𝐼
δ is the total deflection (instantaneous elastic + long term creep)
E is generally taken as the characteristic mean value of Young’s modulus
of elasticity
j2 the duration of load for creep deformations

I value - calculate using

• nominal dimensions for seasoned timber
• 3mm less than nominal dimensions in both cross sectional
dimensions for unseasoned timber

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 Creep in Timber
• Creep is the increase in deflection with the
time over which a load is applied.
• Creep deformations occur even under
constant loads.
– The load is not increasing, the deformation
gradually will increase over time.
• Creep is commonly found in composite
materials
– Eg. Concrete, plastic and fibreglass (FRP)

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AS1720.1:2010

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Suggested limits of allowable deflections
Floor joists Imposed load only Span/(300 to 400)

Floor bearers Imposed load only Span/(250 to 400)

Rafters (raked ceiling) Permanent loads Span/(250 to 500)

Rafters (no ceiling Permanent loads Span/ (250 to 350)

attached)
Near flat roof beams Total load Span/500 (max)

Lintels Total loading 20 mm (max)

Where (max) is used best to use conservative estimate of E

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 E 5%ile and E mean

• For elements for which deflection is critical

ie there is a risk to safety, or where the
consequences of deflection are serious
– use 5%ile E <App B> (pg. 104)
• visually graded timber E5% ~ 0.5 E
• machine graded timber E5% ~ 0.7 E
• plywood & glulam E5% ~ 0.75 E
• LVL E5% ~ 0.85 E

• other cases, use given E (based on mean)

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Members under axial compression or (Column design)

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 Strength Cl 3.3.1.1

 Strength Limit State Design Equation

 N c   N c *
– Nc* is factored design load in axial compression
(strength limit state)
– ( Nc) is the design compression capacity of the
member
– At the strength limit state, the design capacity is the
load at which the member will collapse.
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 Strength Cl 3.3.1.1
Design Capacity is the load at which the member
will have failed (either squashing or buckling).

 N c    k1 k4 k6 k12 f 'c Ac

– f ´c is the characteristic strength (MPa) of the

timber used
– f ´c Ac is the load at which the timber will squash
given standard conditions
– k factors allow for design conditions & buckling

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 Compression strength f ´c
• Function of material specified
– in-grade test data available (eg. MGP)
• <Table H3.1> for MGP grades
• supplier of <App H> for other in-grade tested material
eg seasoned Victorian Ash
– no in-grade data - f ´c from
• <Table H2.1> for F-grade tension members
• <Table 5.1> for plywood
• <Table 7.1> for glulam tension members
• manufacturer for LVL

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Factors similar to those for bending members

 capacity factor
k1 duration of load as for bending members
k4 partial seasoning factor
k6 temperature effect

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Ac Compression area
Ac = A - nr D b
gross area (b.d)  area of unfilled holes
(b and d = width and depth of cross section of the
timber member; nr = number of bolt holes; D =
diameter of unfilled bolt hole)
compression forces must pass around an unfilled
hole

a filled hole provides an alternative load path

as the wood either side of the hole crushes

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k12 is the stability factor for columns which accounts for
the effect of member slenderness on its axial buckling
capacity
Must evaluate both S3 and S4
Cl 3.3.2
Buckling about major axis Buckling about minor axis
S3= Smallest of ( Lax/d , g13 L/d) S4= smaller of (Lay/b, g13 L/ b)

Lax = distance between restraints against major axis buckling

Lay = distance between restraints against minor axis buckling

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Figure 3.9
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52
Braced (B) End restraint Diagram g13
Sway (S)
B Both ends restrained in Example 1.0
position only (pinned)

B Flat ends - both ends cut Example 0.7

square to the longitudinal axis
and bearing on a hard surface.

B Studs nominally cut square Example 0.9 *

and bearing on a timber top Skew
and bottom plate. nails

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Braced (B) End restraint Diagram g13
Sway (S)
S One end restrained in both 1.5
position and direction, and the
other restrained in direction
but not position (both fixed,
but with sway)
S One end restrained in both 2.0
position and direction, the
other end unrestrained (flag-
pole type structure or pinned
base portal frames)

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Cl 3.3.3
ρc S ≤ 10 k12 =1.0

10 ≤ ρc S ≤ 20 k12 = 1.5 - 0.05 * ρc S

ρc S ≥ 20 k12 = 200/ (ρc S)2

S = S3 for buckling about major axis

S = S4 for buckling about minor axis

N d,c = min ( N d,cx , N d,cy) Cl 3.3.1.2

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 rc Material constant
 Function with term close to f 'c
E
• r c allows for
– initial curvature of the member,
– inelasticity of timber (creep buckling).
• Different values for seasoned & unseasoned
timber.
– use <Table 3.3> for F-grade timber & MGP
– use <Table 7.2> for GL grade timber
– use <8.4.8> for LVL

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AS1720.1:2010

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 Combined axial compression and bending Cl 3.5.1
moment actions

 M x*   N c* 
2
 M *
  N c* 
 x     1.0     1.0
M  N  M  N 
 d ,x   d ,cy   d ,x   d ,cx 

M*x is the design action effect in bending about the major principal axis

M d,x is the design capacity in bending about the major principal axis

N*c is the design action effect in axial compression

N d,cy is the design capacity in axial compression for buckling the major principal axis

N d,cx is the design capacity in axial compression for buckling about the minor principal axis

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