Design of Tension Members in Timber

Tension member
Tr =  An ft (KDKHKStKT) KZt
where
 = 0.9
An = net area Ag An
ft = tension strength
KD = load duration factor
KH = system factor (load sharing)
KSt = service condition factor (dry/wet)
KT = treatment factor (chemicals)
KZt = size factor
Design values for structural joists and planks (MPa)
Design values for
Douglas fir glulam
(MPa)
Glulam tension members

An Ag

T T

Tr = minimum of
 An ftn (KDKHKStKT)
and  Ag ftg (KDKHKStKT)
Glulam tension members
Zone C
Zone D

T T
An Ag

Probability of a defect in zone C is much

smaller than in zone D, therefore
ftn > ftg
 Tension member
Tr =  An ft (KDKHKStKT) KZt

where
An = net area
KD = load duration factor
KH = system factor (load sharing)
KSt = service condition factor (dry/wet)
KT = treatment factor (chemicals)
KZt = size factor
 Duration of load effect
KD
100
KD = 1.15
Wind load most design cases
90 (~3 months)
Specified strength %

80 KD = 1.0
creep of the lignin matrix
Live load
70

KD = 1.0 – 0.5 log (D/L) ≥ 0.65

60
KD = 0.65
50 Dead load

2000 4000 6000 8000 1 year 10,000

Load duration (hours)

 Tension member
Tr =  An ft (KDKHKStKT) KZt

where
An = net area
KD = load duration factor
KH = system factor (load sharing)
KSt = service condition factor (dry/wet)
KT = treatment factor (chemicals)
KZt = size factor
 Effect of moisture content
% of strength at 12% moisture content

100
impact strength

fibre saturation point

80 modulus of elasticity

modulus of rupture

60

crushing strength
40
12 15 20 25 28 30

moisture content of wood (%)

 Tension member
Tr =  An ft (KDKHKStKT) KZt

where
An = net area
KD = load duration factor
KH = system factor (load sharing)
KSt = service condition factor (dry/wet)
KT = treatment factor (chemicals)
KZt = size factor
 Chemical treatment of wood
against
decay and fire

Typically no effect, except Fire retardant has a

when wood surface is incised weakening effect on strength
of wood
 Tension member
Tr =  An ft (KDKHKStKT) KZt

where
An = net area
KD = load duration factor
KH = system factor (load sharing)
KSt = service condition factor (dry/wet)
KT = treatment factor (chemicals)
KZt = size factor
 Size effect
A,L
Tr Tr
5A,L
< 5Tr < 5Tr

Length effect
A,L
Tr Tr

A,2L
< Tr < Tr
(not covered in code)
Examples of tension members where a
length effect would apply
 Tension member
Tr =  An ft (KDKHKStKT) KZt

where
An = net area
KD = load duration factor
KH = system factor (load sharing)
KSt = service condition factor (dry/wet)
KT = treatment factor (chemicals)
KZt = size factor
Load sharing systems

Bridging
(load sharing)

Closely spaced members

(load sharing)
 Load sharing KH

3 or more
members
sharing

Type 1 system
KH = 1.1
<6
00m
m
 Load sharing KH
150mm edge nailing 9.5mm min. sheathing
300mm intermediate

3 or more
members
sharing

Type 2 system
KH = 1.4
<6
00m
m
 Platform
construction