Visually graded lumber is the oldest and most common of the three

methods. Visual grading is performed by qualified graders in the mill.

These graders sort each piece of lumber into various grades
based on visual characteristics known to affect lumber strength
and stiffness, such as knot size and slope-of-grain.

strength of any section, is known as the form factor of that

section.
 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
1. A wooden beam 200mm x 350mm has a simple span of 6m. If the weight of the beam is 6.3 3 and its
𝑚𝑚
allowable bending and shearing stress are 10.6 MPa and 0.70 MPa respectively.
a. What is the size factor adjustment
b. What is the safe uniform load that the beam could support based on flexural stress with size factor adjustment.
c. What is the safe uniform load that the beam could support based on shear strength.
Given:
Unit wt = 6.3
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 Fb = 10.6 MPa Fv = 0.70 MPa
𝑚𝑚3

a. What is the size factor adjustment

300 1
CF = ( )9
𝑑𝑑
300 1
CF = ( )9
350
CF = 0.983
b. What is the safe uniform load that the beam could support based on flexural stress with size factor adjustment.

6𝑀𝑀 𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 = CF * allowable bending stress

𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 =
𝑏𝑏𝑑𝑑 2 CF = 0.983 Fb = 10.6 MPa
𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 = 0.983 * 10.6 MPa
𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 = 10.42 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀
𝑁𝑁 6𝑀𝑀
10.42 =
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2 (200𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)(350𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)2
𝑥𝑥 1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 1 𝑚𝑚
𝑀𝑀 = 42, 548,333.33 𝑁𝑁 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑥𝑥
1000𝑁𝑁 1000𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

𝑀𝑀 = 42. 54 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚
 𝑤𝑤 𝑙𝑙2
𝑀𝑀 = 𝑀𝑀 = 42. 54 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚 𝑙𝑙 = 6𝑚𝑚
8

𝑤𝑤 (6𝑚𝑚)2
42. 54 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚 =
8
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑤𝑤 = 9.44
𝑚𝑚

𝐷𝐷𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 ∗ 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤. 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 Unit wt = 6.3
𝑚𝑚3
𝐷𝐷𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = 0.2𝑚𝑚 ∗ 0.350𝑚𝑚 ∗ 6.3
𝑚𝑚3
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝐷𝐷𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒𝑒 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = 0.441
𝑚𝑚
𝑆𝑆𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑤𝑤 − 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 Live load
𝑆𝑆𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 = 9.44 − 0.441 = 8.999 or 9
𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚
c. What is the safe uniform load that the beam could support based on shear strength.

3𝑉𝑉
𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣 = Fv = 0.70 MPa
2𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏
𝑁𝑁 3𝑉𝑉
0.70 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2
=
2(200𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)(350𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)

𝑉𝑉 = 32, 666.67 N 𝑥𝑥 1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

1000𝑁𝑁
𝑉𝑉 = 32. 67 kN
 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤
V= 𝑉𝑉 = 32. 67 kN 𝑙𝑙 = 6𝑚𝑚
2
𝑤𝑤(6𝑚𝑚)
32. 67 kN =
2
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
w = 10.89
𝑚𝑚

𝑆𝑆𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 𝑤𝑤 − 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙

𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑆𝑆𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 = 10.89 − 0.440 = 10.45 Live load
𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚

𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑆𝑆𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 =9 considering size factor Safest load
𝑚𝑚
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑆𝑆𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 = 10.45 considering the shear strength
𝑚𝑚
1. A single span beam having a span of 6m has a cross section of 200mm x 500mm. It carries a uniformly
distributed load throughout it span. The beam is made up of visually stress-graded unseasoned Apitong
with 80% stress grade with an allowable bending stress of 16.5 MPa, modulus of elasticity of 7310 Mpa
1
and allowable deflection of the beam is 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠.
240
a. What is the slenderness factor of the beam
b. Allowable bending stress
c. Uniformly distributed load it could carry
Given:
1
Fb = 165 MPa E = 7310 MPa 𝛿𝛿 = 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
240

a. What is the slenderness factor of the beam

For single span uniformly distributed load
Le = 1.92 L L = 6m
Le = 1.92 (6) 𝐿𝐿𝑒𝑒 𝐷𝐷
𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆 =
𝐵𝐵2
Le =11.52m

(11.52𝑚𝑚) (0.5𝑚𝑚)
𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆 =
(0.2𝑚𝑚)2

𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆 =12 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛

b. Allowable bending stress? E = 7310 MPa Fb = 165 MPa

𝐸𝐸 7310 MPa
𝐶𝐶𝑘𝑘 = 0.811 𝐶𝐶𝑘𝑘 = 0.811 𝐶𝐶𝑘𝑘 = 17.1
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 165 MPa
𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆 =12

𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆 > 10 but less than 𝐶𝐶𝑘𝑘 1 𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆 4

𝑈𝑈𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝐹𝐹𝑏𝑏 ′ = 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 1 − ( )
12 > 10 but less than17.1 3 𝐶𝐶𝐾𝐾
 𝐶𝐶𝑘𝑘 = 17.1 𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆 =12
1 𝐶𝐶𝑆𝑆 4 Fb = 165 MPa
′
𝐹𝐹𝑏𝑏 = 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 1 − ( )
3 𝐶𝐶𝐾𝐾

′
1 12 4
𝐹𝐹𝑏𝑏 = 165 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 1 − ( )
3 17.1

𝐹𝐹𝑏𝑏 ′ = 15.2 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝐴𝐴𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁

C. Uniformly distributed load it could carry

By Bending Stress
6𝑀𝑀
𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 ′ = 𝐹𝐹𝑏𝑏 ′ = 15.2 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀
𝑏𝑏𝑑𝑑 2
𝑁𝑁 6𝑀𝑀
15.2 =
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2 (200𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)(500𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)2

1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑥𝑥 1 𝑚𝑚
𝑀𝑀 = 126,666,666.7 𝑁𝑁 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑥𝑥 = 126.67 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚
1000 𝑁𝑁 1000 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑤𝑤 𝑙𝑙2
𝑀𝑀 =
8
𝑤𝑤 (6𝑚𝑚)2
126.67 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚 =
8
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑤𝑤 = 28.15
𝑚𝑚
By Deflection 5𝑤𝑤𝑙𝑙 4
1 𝛿𝛿 = 𝑏𝑏ℎ3
𝛿𝛿 = 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 384𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 I=
240 12
(200𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)(500𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)3
𝛿𝛿 =
1
6𝑚𝑚 I=
240 12
I =2,083,333,333𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚4
𝛿𝛿 = 0.025𝑚𝑚
5 𝑤𝑤 (6000𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)4
1000𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝛿𝛿 = 𝑁𝑁
𝛿𝛿 = 0.025𝑚𝑚 384(7310
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2
)(2,083,333,333𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚4 )
1𝑚𝑚

𝛿𝛿 = 25𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2
𝛿𝛿 =1.108007 w
𝑁𝑁
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2
25𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚= 1.108007 w 𝑁𝑁 1000𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 1𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑁𝑁 w = 22.56
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 1𝑚𝑚 1000𝑁𝑁
25𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 25𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑁𝑁
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2
=w =w
1.108007 1.108007 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2
w = 22.56
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑁𝑁
𝑚𝑚
 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
By Bending Stress 𝑤𝑤 = 28.15
𝑚𝑚

𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
By Deflection w = 22.56
𝑚𝑚
 2. A single span beam having an unsupported span of 20m carries a uniform load of w in
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠. 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏 ℎ𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑎𝑎 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 150mm x 600mm. Allowable bending stress
𝑚𝑚
of the wood if Fb = 12.4 MPa with a modulus of elasticity of 13800MPa.
a. What is the allowable bending stress with size factor adjustment
b. What is the allowable bending stress with slenderness factor adjustment.
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
c. What is the uniform load of w in that beam could carry.
𝑚𝑚

a. What is the allowable bending stress with size factor adjustment

300 1 d = 600mm Fb = 12.4 Mpa (allowable bending stress given)
CF = ( ) 9
𝑑𝑑
𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 = CF * allowable bending stress
300 1
CF = ( )9
600
𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 = 0.926 * 12.4 MPa
CF = 0.926
𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 = 11.48 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀
b. What is the allowable bending stress with slenderness factor adjustment.
For single span uniformly distributed load
Le = 1.92 L
𝐿𝐿𝑒𝑒 𝑑𝑑
Le = 1.92 (20m) 𝐶𝐶𝑠𝑠 =
𝑏𝑏 2
Le = 38.4m
38,400𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚(600𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)
Le = 38,400mm 𝐶𝐶𝑠𝑠 =
(150𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)2

𝐶𝐶𝑠𝑠 =32
 𝐸𝐸
𝐶𝐶𝑘𝑘 = 0.811 E = 13800MPa Fb = 12.4 MPa (allowable bending stress given)
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹

13800𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝐶𝐶𝑠𝑠 =32

𝐶𝐶𝑘𝑘 = 0.811 𝐶𝐶𝑘𝑘 = 27.06
12.4 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀
𝐶𝐶𝑠𝑠 > 𝐶𝐶𝑘𝑘
 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆 ∶ 𝐶𝐶𝑠𝑠 > 𝐶𝐶𝑘𝑘 but less than 50

𝑢𝑢𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠:

0.438𝐸𝐸
𝐹𝐹𝑏𝑏 ′ = E = 13800MPa 𝐶𝐶𝑠𝑠 =32
𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 2
0.438(13800𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀)
𝐹𝐹𝑏𝑏 ′ =
322

𝐹𝐹𝑏𝑏 ′ = 5.9 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑎𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛

 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
c. What is the uniform load of w in that beam could carry.
𝑚𝑚
6𝑀𝑀
𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 = 𝐹𝐹𝑏𝑏 ′ = 5.9 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀
𝑏𝑏𝑑𝑑 2
𝑁𝑁 6𝑀𝑀
5.9 =
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚2 (150𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)(600𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚)2

M = 53,100,000 N mm
1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 1𝑚𝑚
M = 53,100,000 N mm
1000 𝑁𝑁 1000𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

M = 53.1 𝑘𝑘𝑁𝑁 𝑚𝑚 𝑤𝑤 𝑙𝑙 2
M= 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
8 W = 1.062
𝑚𝑚
𝑤𝑤 (20𝑚𝑚)2 answer
53.1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 𝑚𝑚 =
8
Activity:
1. A single span timber beam having an unsupported length of 8m has a cross section of 200mm x 350mm.
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
It carries a uniformly distributed load “W” in
𝑚𝑚
throughtout its span. Allowable bending stress Fb = 9.6 MPa and E = 13800MPa.
a. What is the allowable bending stress with size factor adjustment
b. What is the allowable bending stress with slenderness factor adjustment.
𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
c. What is the uniform load of w in that beam could carry.
𝑚𝑚