Timber Structures

Sawn Lumber
Glulam
Plywood
 Sawn Lumber
Highly variable
Classified by grade
Visually or Mechanically graded
Grade depends on number and location of
defects
Defects shakes, checks, splits and knots
Sawn Lumber is available in lengths up to 20 to 25
with the following cross sectional dimensions:

Nominal Size Actual Size

Boards 1 x (212) x 1 11
Dimension 2x2 1x1
Lumber 2x4 1x3
2x6 1x5
2x8 1x7
2 x 10 1x9
2 x 12 1 x 11
4x4 3x3
 Glulam
Composed of strips of sawn lumber glued
together
Can form larger sections than can be
obtained from trees
Can optimize placement of wood
 Glulam
Member can be any length that can be shipped in the
following cross-sections:
Western Species Southern Pine
1 thick laminations 1 3/8 laminations
Width, in. Laminations Width, in. Laminations
2 6 to 18 3 4 to 18
3 1/8 4 to 16 5 4 to 26
5 1/8 4 to 24 6 5 to 35
6 5 to 32 8 6 to 46
8 6 to 42 10 7 to 56
10 7 to 54
 Plywood
Made from sheets of wood peeled from
logs
Glued together to from large panels
Typically 4 by 8
Available in to 1 1/8 thicknesses
Use American Plywood Association
literature for strengths
Allowable Stress Design of Timber
ASD design still in use in timber
Service load stress allowable stress

The allowable stress depends on the species and grade.

The following table gives allowable stress values in psi:
Allowable Stress Adjustment Factors
Adjustment Factors are used to modify the
allowable stress for various use conditions.

The following table lists the adjustment factors and their applicability:
Timber Beam Design Example p. 7 notes
Consider a wood frame house with dimensions shown.
The first floor will be supported by joists 16 c.c., which,
in turn, will be supported on wood sills on basement
walls at the exterior, and on spine beams on the interior.
The spine beams, in turn, will be supported on columns
placed 20 c.c. in order to leave maximum clear space in
the basement. Service live load will be assumed as 40
psf, and service dead load, 15 psf. We will assume
plywood structural flooring, and No. 2 Southern Pine for
the joists and spine beam. The self weight of the joists
and spine beams will be assumed to be included in the
dead load.
 Floor Plan

60-0 c.c.

20-0 c.c.
joists@16c.c

Spine beam

20-0 c.c. 20-0 c.c.

20-0 c.c.
Allowable Stress Values, psi
 Adjustment Factors
CD = Load Duration Factor
= 1.0 for maximum intensity live load for 10 years, p. 3 notes

CM

Ct
 Adjustment Factors
CL Beam Stability Factor for sawn lumber only,
CL = 1.0 for the following conditions (d and b are
nominal dimensions):
d 2b no lateral support required (2x4)
d 4b both ends held in position to prevent
overturning (2x8)
d 5b one edge of beam laterally supported
for entire length. (2x10)
d 6b compression edge laterally supported
for entire length (2x12)
d 7b both edges continously laterally supported
(2x14)

If these conditions are not met CL must be calculated (eq. p. 6 notes).

 Adjustment Factors
CF - Size Factor

CV Volume Factor Only applies to Glulam, p. 3 notes

Typ.
Cfu Flat use Factor allowable stress factors are based
on
loading the narrow edge. Flat use factor modifies the Flat use

allowable stress when the load is applied to the wide face.

 Adjustment Factors
Cr Repetitive use factor For sawn lumber
whenever three or more beams in contact or not
more than 24 c.c. share a load
Cr = 1.15
Cc Curvature factor applies only to glulam
Cf Form factor For circular or diamond shape
cross-sections
CH Shear Stress Factor Can increase
allowable shear stress of beam if location and
extent of defects is known
 Detail of Beam Resting on Sill
Critical shear for design is a distance d from face of
support
20-0 2 x 12 joist

d
2 x 6 wood sill

basement wall
Can consider plywood flange
composite section
when calculating
deflection if sub-
floor is properly
connected to joists 2 x 12 joist
 Floor Plan
60-0 c.c.

20-0 c.c.
joists@16c.c

Spine beam

20-0 c.c. 20-0 c.c.

20-0 c.c.
Spine beam showing loading from joists
 Available Glulam
Western Species Southern Pine
1 thick laminations 1 3/8 laminations
Width, in. Laminations Width, in. Laminations
2 6 to 18 3 4 to 18
3 1/8 4 to 16 5 4 to 26
5 1/8 4 to 24 6 5 to 35
6 5 to 32 8 6 to 46
8 6 to 42 10 7 to 56
10 7 to 54
Allowable Stress Values, psi
Adjustment Factors
 Cp = Column stability factor

CD = 1.0 for continuous lateral support

CD 1.0 no intermediate lateral support
equation p. 6 notes
 Southern Pine Span Tables
1. What is the maximum span for Grade 2, 2 x 10
floor joists, spaced 16 c.c., carrying 40 psf live
load?
2. Choose a ceiling joist to carry a live load of 20
psf for a span of 15 ft. The joist will be spaced
at 24 c.c.
3. An existing floor system is composed of Grade
1, 2 x 12s, spaced 12 c.c. The joists span 14
. What is the maximum allowable live load
based on the Southern Pine Span Tables?
Biaxial Bending of Beams Example
Choose a W-shape beam for the factored
loading shown using grade 36 steel. The simple
beam span is 25 feet and it is continuously
braced against instability. It is not necessary to
check shear and deflection for this problem.

4
5
2 k/ft 3 k/ft
3