Example 01
A roof truss of span 20m is to be constructed at Dar es Salaam port. Calculate the design
strength ft, od
Example 02
A floor joist for a residential house is to be constructed at Musoma, Mara region. What is the
bending design strength for dead + imposed load?
Solution
Generally, the design strength, (in this case: - Bending)
Determination of parameters
The characteristics strength (from table),
The partial coefficient factor for material (from table – suggested for Tanzania),
The partial coefficient factor failure consequences (from table–floor structure-safety class-
serious),
the modification factor,
Floor → dead + imposed load → load duration (medium term) → moisture class (Not
coastal) = 1,2
(from table)
Hence:
Example 03
A timber member with an eccentric notch as shown in figure 4 is to be subjected to a short-term
design load, Fd = 30kN and a design moment, M d = 3kNm. The member is part of industrial roof
structure located in Coastal Region -Tanzania. Calculate if the given design load can safely be
carried.
For a given member
1
(From table) (1 mark)
(From table – suggested for timber structures) (1 mark)
(From table – industrial roof structure and less serious safety class) (1 mark)
(From table – short-term and moisture class 3) (1 mark)
Hence, the material bending design strength, (2 marks)
Eccentricity, e = 100 – 90 = 10mm
(1 mark)
(1 mark)
( )
Interaction equation
Therefore the member is cannot carry the load
Remedy: Try another section
Example 04
A simply supported residential floor joist of span 4.5m shown below is to carry a characteristic
dead load of 0.5kN/m and characteristic concentrated (medium term) imposed load of 4.0kN at
mid-span. By assuming moisture class 2 and safety class “serious”.
a) Determine the width “b” of a suitable standard section (h = 200mm) to carry the loads
assuming no lateral displacement of the compression side of the beam occurs
b) Check whether the section determined in (a) can limit the maximum deflection to L/300
2
c) Make a check calculation of the lateral stability of the beam if lateral displacement is not
prevented but only rotation is prevented at points of bearing
Floor joist
(a) The width ‘b’
and
( ) (1 mark)
For a given floor joist
(From table - bending) (1 mark)
(From table – suggested for timber structures) (1 mark)
(From table – Floor structures and serious safety class) (1 mark)
(From table – medium-term and moisture class 2) (1 mark)
The width, (2 marks)
(b) Maximum deflection =
3
From the table:
This is not OK. The section cannot limit the deflection to (1 marks)
(c) The width ‘b’
and
( ) (1 mark)
For a given floor joist
(From table - bending) (1 mark)
(From table – suggested for timber structures) (1 mark)
(From table – Floor structures and serious safety class) (1 mark)
(From table – medium-term and moisture class 2) (1 mark)
The width, (2 marks)
4
Example 05
a) Explain what is meant by moisture class 2 materials? What moisture class 2 structures
suggested for Tanzania?
b) The bottom chord of the truss in figure 1 carries a maximum tension force of Nmax = 8kN and
a maximum moment, Mmax = 2.5kNm. The thickness of the member, b = 75mm and the
timber is Tanzanian cypress of grade 50. Select a suitable value for d so that the given loads
can safely be carried. Loads are long- term loads, safety class is very serious and moisture
class 3. Deflection should not be considered.
d
a y y
a
b
Section a - a
Figure 1
a) The moisture class 2 is characterized by moisture content in the materials corresponding to a
temperature of 20±20C and the relative humidity of the surrounding air only exceeding 0.65 for
limited periods. The moisture class 2 structures suggested for Tanzania are structures protected
and ventilated in higher rainfall highland areas, intermediate tropical areas and lake zones
b) =8x14 = 11.2kN
= 2.5x1.4 = 3.5kNm
Try - b/d = 75/250, Z = 781x103mm3
Check
5
OK
Hence the value of d = 250mm
Example 06
For a beam shown below determine whether:
a) The load on the beam can be safely carried
b) The load is allowable if the maximum deflection is not to exceed a value of L/300 where L is
the span
Design data
Wk = 1.43kN/m
Wd = 2.0kN/m
Moisture class = 3
Safety class = serious
Long term load
Lateral support to permit rotation at points of bearing is provided
6
Example 07
A diagonal member in compression in a nailed truss has a length L = 1500mm from node to node
point. The x-section is given by b/h = 100/200. Location is Mtwara, safety class is medium term
load duration. Determine the design load carrying capacity
Example 08
A bottom chord b/h = 50/250mm in a 10m span truss with a ceiling fixed is exposed to a tensile
force, Fd = 10kN and a moment Md = 2.5kNm both from long term design load. Moisture class
3. Can the loads safely be carried?