STRUCTURAL TIMBER DESIGN

CEB 8238

UQF 8 4TH YEAR

PREPARED BY: DR. MBOYA H. A. 2021/2022

COURSE LECTURER: DR. MBOYA H. A.
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Module description
1. study guide and
2. Assessment
3. BS 5268-2:2002

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1.0. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Timber Structure.
• Timber is one of the oldest materials used in
construction and it is more plentiful available natural
resources.
• Timber materials are used in varieties of structural
forms
• Timber structures can be highly durable when properly
treated and built.
• Timber possesses excellent insulating properties, good
fire resistances, light weight and aesthetic appeal.

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1.1.1. The tree subsystem
1. Crown.
Provide chemical reactions that form sugar
and cellulose which is necessary for the
growth of the tree.
2. Trunk.
Provide rigidity, mechanical strength and
height to maintain the crown. Transport
moisture and minerals from the root to the
crown.

3. Roots.
Act as foundation and enable growing tree to
withstand wind forces. Absorb moisture
containing minerals from the soil.
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1.12. The tree trunk
• Engineers are mainly concerned with the trunk of the
tree.
• The wood is composed of long thin tubular cells,
bonded together by lignin.
• Most cells are oriented in the direction of the trunk
except for ray’s cells which run radially across the trunk.
• Trees produce a new layer of wood just under the inner
bark in the early part of the growing season

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1.2. Types of timber
There are two groups of commercial timber:
1. Softwoods: These are generally gymnosperms; the
coniferous trees such as pines and spruces which have
characteristic needle-like leaves. Softwoods are
characterized by:
– Quick growth (mature within 30 years).
– Low density and less durable unless treated.
– Readily available and comparatively cheep.
– They are physically soft and most of them are light in
colour.
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1.2. Types of timber (Cont ...)
2. Hardwoods: These are deciduous (broad leaved)
trees that lose their leaves at the end of each
growing season. The cell structure has thick wall
unlike that of softwood. Hardwood is characterized
by:
– Slow growth resulting into high density and
strength.
– Does not depend on preservatives for durability.
– Expensive due to time taken to mature and
transportation cost.
– They are physically hard.

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1.4. Properties of timber
– Moisture movement: - Strength depends on
moisture content, an increase of moisture results into
a decrease in strength.
– Density: - Strength of timber increase with density.
– Slope of grain: - 1 in 25, strength reduces by 4% and
11% at 1 in 15. In general, the strength decreases
with increasing angle of deviation.
– Timber section in relation to load and duration of
loading.
– Direction of growth rings, wood cell and tissue
position influence strength.
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1.5. Advantages and Disadvantages of timber
(a) Advantages: -
– Availability, 25% of land surface is covered by forest
and timber is renewable through reforestation.
– High strength/weight ratio compared to other
material e.g. concrete and steel.
– Cheap to produce and work with.
– Workable i.e. sawing into various shapes and forms.
– Capable of accepting new technology e.g. gluing.
– Good insulation properties and fire resistance.

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1.5. Advantages and Disadvantages of timber (Cont …)
(b) Disadvantages: -
– Sensitive to moisture variation.
– Susceptible to attack by insect and fungal.
– It can rot.
– Is subjected to uplift due to light weight.

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2.0. DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
• The structural design of timber members is related to
BS 5268-2:2002 and it is based on permissible stress
design philosophy in which design stresses are
derived on a statistical basis and deformation are
also limited.
• Permissible stresses are calculated by multiplying the
grade stresses given in Tanzanian strength grade
(Table A) and Table 7 to 12a, of BS 5268-2: 2002
(*NLGA = National Lumber Grades Authority).

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2.1. TIMBER GRADING
Uniformity and reliability in quality of timber as a
structural material is achieved by a process of selection
based on established grading system, i.e. appearance
grading and strength grading.
Appearance Grading - frequently used by architects to
reflect the warm attractive features of the material: -
surface grain pattern, knots, colour, etc. for exposed work.
Stress Grading –
- Stress grading to determine the strength classes.
- For structural purposes and satisfy the requirement of
BS 5268. 13
2.1. TIMBER GRADING (Cont …)
Visual Grading
• Manually carried out by approved grader.
• Grader examines each piece of timber to check the size,
frequency of defects, and rate of growth.
Machine grading (BS 5268 part 2, clause 2.5 2002):-
• Strength is related to stiffness.
• Machine exerts pressure and bending is induced along the
length. Deflection is measured and interpreted to gives
the grading of timber section.
• Less material is rejected if it is machine graded; however
timber is also visually inspected during machine grading to
ensure major defects are not included. 14
2.1. TIMBER GRADING (Cont …)
2.1.3. Strength Classes
• Strength classes designation is according to BS 5268
Part 2: 2002
• Advantages of strength classes:
– Allow design without much consideration on
species and prices.
– Allow freedom to suppliers.
– It is more economical.
– Allow new species to emerge in the market without
affecting existing specifications of timber.

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 2.1. TIMBER GRADING (Cont …)
• Strength grades (Further elaborated on Table 8 of BS
5268-2:2002)
BS 5268 Part 2; 2002. Table 8 C14 C16 C18 C22 C24 C27 C30 C35 C40

BS 5268 Part 2; 2002. Table 8 D30 D35 D40 D50 D60 D70

BS 5268 Part 2; 1996. Table 7 C14 C16 C18 C22 C24 C27 C30

BS 5268 Part 2; 1984. Table 8 SC2 SC3 SC4 SC5

NB: C = Softwood,
D = Hardwood.

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Table A:Tanzanian grade timber

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2.2. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS - BS 5268-2:2002
(FACTORS AFFECTING STRENGTH OF TIMBER)
• All structural members, assemblies or formworks in a
building, in combination with the floor and walls and
other buildings shall comply with the code.
• To ensure that the design is robust and stable:
– The geometry of the structure should be considered
– Required interaction and connections should be
assured.
– Suitable bracing or diaphragm effect should be
provided in planes parallel to the direction of the
lateral load
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2.2. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS - BS 5268-2:2002
(FACTORS AFFECTING STRENGTH OF TIMBER) (Cot …)
• Loading: Loading should comply with BS or any other
relevant standard.
– Magnitude of loading in relation to section.
– Location of load.
– Types of load e.g. UDL or Point load

• Duration of Loading (BS 5268-2:2002 sec. 2.8)

– Load duration affect strength and permissible stresses.
– Grade stress (GS) and joint strength is applicable to long-
term loading.
– For other durations of loading the GS and joint loads may
be increased by modification factor (K3) (except elastic
and shear moduli) 20
2.2. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS - BS 5268-2:2002 (FACTORS
AFFECTING STRENGTH OF TIMBER) (Cont …)
• Section size.
– All grade stresses in bending, tension, compression and
moduli of elasticity is applicable to timber of 300 mm
deep
– Grade stress shall be modified for section sizes other than
300 mm deep by modification factors K6- form factor and
K7 - depth factor

• Load shearing (BS 5268-2:2002 sec. 2.9)

– Where a number of pieces of timber (generally four or
more) at a max spacing of 610 mm centers act together to
support load, the grade stresses can be increased by
modification factor for load shearing system (K8 = 1.1) and
E = Mmin 21
2.2. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS - BS 5268-2:2002
(FACTORS AFFECTING STRENGTH OF TIMBER) (Cont …)
• Service classes
– Due to moisture effect on mechanical properties of
timber, the permissible property values should be those
corresponding to one of the three classes given by the
code.
– Service class 1- timber used internally in a continuous
heated building, ave. MC likely to be attained in service
condition is 12%.
– Service class 2- timber used in covered building, ave. MC
to be attained in service condition when:
• generally heated is 15%
• unheated is 18%.
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2.2. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS - BS 5268-2:2002 (FACTORS
AFFECTING STRENGTH OF TIMBER) (Cont …)
• Service class 3: Refer to timber used externally, average
moisture is 20%
– For service class 3 condition they should be multiplied by
modification factor K2
• Grade stress and elastic moduli values given apply to service
class 1 and 2.
Moisture content
• Moisture content affects the structural properties
• At MC below about 30% timber shrink or swells and its
strength increases or reduces as its moisture content
reduced or increased.
• Wood is less prone to decay at MC below 25%: below 20% it
is considered immune. 23
Moisture Content
• In a living tree, MC can be 200% Living
tree
• “free water” is contained in cell cavity
• “bound water” is within the cell wall
• Fiber Saturation Point (FSP) is the
MC at 0% free and 100% bound water
FSP is about 30%
• Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) is FSP
reached in service

Shrinkage
• Shrinkage begins once MC < FSP
• Shrinkage is not the same in each
EMC
direction
• Uncontrolled shrinkage results in splits
Solid Timber section properties

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Timber Structure

Characteristic shrinkage and distortion of flat, square, and

round pieces as affected by direction of growth rings.
Tangential shrinkage is about twice as great as radial.
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