TIMBER DESIGN

TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

Problem 1
Wooden joists 50 mm in width and 200 mm in depth are used
to support a floor load of 6.75 kPa exclusive of its own weight.
The joists will have an effective span of 4.25 m. and be placed
at 0.40 m. on centers. Weight of wood is 7.5 kN/m3.
1. Compute the maximum bending stress in the joists.
2. Compute the maximum shearing stress in the joists.
3. Compute the maximum deflection in the joists.

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

Problem 2
Allowable unit stresses in Newtons per square mm of cross
sectional area of square or rectangular simple solid columns
shall be determined by the following formulas, but such unit
stresses shall not exceed values for compression, parallel to
grain Fc as shown in the tables adjusted in accordance with the
provision of section of 3.4 of the National Structural Code.
1. Short columns ( Le/d of 11 or less )
Fc = Fc

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

2. Intermediate columns (Le/d greater than 11 but less than K )

1 Le / d 4
Fc' = Fc 1-

3 K

E
K = 0.671
Fc

3. Long columns ( Le/d of K or greater)

Fc' =

0.30E

(Le / d)

A timber column of square cross section has a length of 3 m

and a dimension of 140 mm x 140 mm . it is hinged at the ends
so that K = 1.0 . The relevant code on the compressive strength
Fc is given on the specifications and also a table of timber with

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

their corresponding working stresses for visually stress graded

unseasoned Apitong with 80% stress grade. E = 7310 MPa Fc =
9.56 MPa
1. is the column
a. Short column b. Intermediate column
c. Long column d. not allowed by the code
2. Calculate the allowable compressive stress.

3. Calculate the allowable axial load.

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

Problem 3
A tapered column has an unsupported height of 3.6 m. width a
buckling factor Ke = 1.0 . It has an upper diameter of 250mm
and 400mm at the bottom. Allowable compressive stress
parallel to the grain is 12.4 MPa and modulus of elasticity of
11000 MPa.
1. Calculate the slenderness ratio of the tapered column.
2. Calculate the allowable compressive stress.
3. Calculate the safe axial capacity of the column.

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

TAPERED COLUMN :
D2 - D1 )
(
D = D1 +
3

D = equivalent diameter of a tapered column

2

d =

D2
4

d = equivalent square section

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

Problem 4
A timber column carries an axial load of 310 kN at the center
and an eccentric load of 130 kN at an eccentricity of 75 mm and
another moment of 4500 kN.mm acting at the top due to
unequal length of girders supported by the column. The column
has a length of 3.6 m.
Allowable compressive stress parallel to the grain = 12.4 MPa
Allowable bending stress = 13.2 MPa
Allowable of elasticity of wood = 13800 MPa
The column section is 250 mm x 250 mm

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

1. Compute the maximum limit of the slenderness ratio which

would indicate whether it is a long, or intermediate column.
2. Compute the allowable compressive stress.
3. Compute the interaction value for both axial and bending
acting simultaneously.

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

Compression at an angle to grain

FC F
Fn =
Fc sin 2 + FC cos 2
Problem 5
The truss shown is made from Guijo 100 mm x 150 mm. The
load on the truss is 20 kN. Neglect friction.
Allowable stresses for Guijo
Compression parallel to grain = 11 MPa
Compression perpendicular to grain = 5 MPa
Shear parallel to grain = 1 MPa
Shear Longitudinal for joints = 1.45 MPa

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

1. determine the minimum value of x

2. determine the minimum value of y.
3. what is the axial stress on member AC in MPa?

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

Problem 6:
A 75 x 300 mm x 7.2 m plank is not sufficient to carry the
loads imposed upon it. It has a simple span of 7.2 m. It is used
by two men in removing concrete forms on the side of a
reinforced concrete structure. Each man has a weight of 55 kg
but one of them can carry 80 kg while the other man can carry
only 35 kg. These two men will at no time closer than 1.2 m
while moving along the plank. Neglecting the weight of the
planks, determine the nominal thickness of another equal length
and width of gangplank to be placed on top of the 75 mm x 300
mm gangplank , if its allowable flexural stress is 9.70 MPa. Use
the same material for both planks.

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

Problem 7:
A retaining wall made of vertical wooden planks 150 mm in
width and 2.40 m high is simply supported at the base and at a
level 0.60 m from the top. The wall is to retain loose earthfill
with an equivalent fluid pressure of 3.20 kN/m3. Compute the
thickness of the planks if fb = 17.5 MPa and fv = 1.10 MPa.

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

Problem 8:
A 100 mm x 200 mm timber is to be used as a purlin of a
wooden roof truss. The clear span of the purlin is 4.50 m and
will be carrying 5 equal concentrated loads P located 0.90 m on
centers or at every 1/5 point of the span. The pitch of the truss
is . Assuming the purlin to be simply supported with adequate
lateral support, determine the maximum safe value of the load
P. Neglect weight of wood. Use fb = 10.34 MPa and fv = 0.70
MPa.

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

Problem 9:
A 100 mm x 200 mm timber beam (Ew = 11030 MPa, fb =
9.65 MPa) is reinforced at its bottom with a flat steel plate 100
mm x 13 mm ( fs = 138 MPa). The beam spans 4.90 m between
simple supports.
1. find the uniform load that the beam can carry.
2. determine the theoretical length of cover plate required
(Es = 200000 MPa)

TIMBER DESIGN
TIP-QC March 2015

Lecturer: Richard S Regidor

Problem 10:
A log that is 0.60 m in diameter is to be cut into a
rectangular section for use as a simply supported beam having
a span of 4 m. The allowable bending stress of wood is 12 MPa.
Determine the required dimensions b and d to support the
largest load.