UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

IV. Design of Rectangular Timber beams

General Procedure:

Given: Loads, span, properties of wood, allowable bending stress and shearing stress,
Allowable deflection.

Required : size of beam that will satisfy given conditions

General Solution

1. Assume the weight of the beam.( 5% to 10 % of total load).

2. By any method compute the design moment.
3. Determine the size using
6M
bd 2 
Fb
4. Check the assumed weight
5. If d > 300 mm, determine the size adjustment factor and solve for adjusted
bending stress Fb’.

6. Determine the adjusted bending stress Fb’ for slenderness factor’

7. Using the lower value of Fb’, compute the moment capacity of the section.

bd 2 Fb' This capacity must be greater than or equal to the design

M moment. Adjust size if necessary.
6
8. Determine the actual shearing stress.

3V This stress must be less or equal to than the given

fv  allowable shearing stress. Adjust size if necessary.
2bd
9. Determine the actual deflection. This deflection must be less than or equal to the allowable
deflection. Adjust size if necessary.

Example 2.8
Design a simply supported rectangular timber beam 6 m long to support a uniformly distributed
load of 6 kN.m applied along its length and a concentrated load of 12 kN applied at the midspan.
Use guijo 80 % stress grade with an allowable deflection of 1/360 of span.

From NSCP
Guijo 80% stress grade
Fb =21.8 MPa
E = 8.47x1000 =8470 MPa
fv = 2.4 MPa
Wt =0.7(9.8) =6.86 kN/m3 Figure 2.8

11 STRUCTURAL DESIGN 2 BY: ANGELINE C. BULACAN

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Solution:

Assuming 5% weight:

0.05( 6+12/6)=0.4kN/m

Compute for the Moment: Using the moment computed, solve for the
dimensions:
6M 6M
PL wL2 bd 2  d 
M   Fb bFb
4 8
12(6) 6.4(6) 2 try b  200mm
M    46.8kN .m
4 8 6(46.8)(10)6
d  253.78mm 300mm
200(21.8)

Check weight of beam using the dimensions

obtained:
WB  0.2(0.3)6.86  0.4kN / m Assumed weight of beam 0.4kN/m

NOTE: No need for size adjustment factor check since “d” does not exceed 300 mm.

L e  1 . 92 L u  1 . 92 ( 6000 )  11520 mm

Le d 11520 ( 300 ) No need for slenderness factor adjustment,

Cs    9 . 29  10
b2 ( 200 ) 2 hence no need to check on bending.

Check for shear:

P wL 3V 3( 25 .23)1000
V   , w  6  0.4  6.4 kN / m fV  
2 2 2bd 200 (300 )
12 6.4(6) Less than the allowable.
V    25.2 kN fV  1.26 MPa  2.4 MPa Safe for Shear.
2 2

Check for deflection:

L 6000
Allowable deflection,  all    16.67mm
360 360

Actual deflection,

PL3 5wL4
 
48 EI 384 EI
12(1000)(6000)3 5(6.4)(6000) 4 Greater than the
   42.50mm16.67 mm allowable. REDESIGN!
200(300) 3 200(300) 3
48(8470) 384(8470)
12 12

12 STRUCTURAL DESIGN 2 BY: ANGELINE C. BULACAN

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

NOTE: Redesign until the section satisfy the allowable deflection.

After series of revision, the safe design is the succeeding dimension:

Revise, Try b = 250 mm, d = 400 mm:

Check for actual deflection,

PL3 5 wL4
 
48 EI 384 EI
12(1000 )(6000 ) 3 5(6.4)(6000 ) 4
 3
  14.34 mm  16.67 mm
250 ( 400 ) 250 ( 400 ) 3
48(8470 ) 384 (8470 ) Less than the allowable.
12 12
Safe for deflecion.

Use 250 mm by 400 mm timber beam

Example 2.9 Solving an Inequality

A wooden bridge 6 m long is supported by eight timber beams symmetrically spaced. Each beam
supports a uniform load of 6 kN/m (weight included) along its length. The bridge is to support a
moving vehicle with front load of 80 kN and rear load of 20 kN spaced at 3 m on centers. Assuming
that this moving load is equally carried by the beams, design the beams using yakal 63% stress
grade. Limit deflection to 1/300 of span.

From NSCP
Yakal 63% stress grade
Fb =19.3MPa
E = 7.7x1000 =7700 MPa
fv = 1.96 MPa

Solution:

Position of load to produce maximum moment:

M B 0
R ( 6 )  100 ( 2 .7 )  0
R  45 kN

13 STRUCTURAL DESIGN 2 BY: ANGELINE C. BULACAN

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Maximum moment on one beam due to moving load:

M =0 M = 45(2.7) = 121.5 kN ∙ m

M Maximum moment on one beam due to moving load:

121 .5
ML   15 .19 kN .m
8
NOTE: The moving load will be carried by
No. of logs the 8 logs .The moving load is assumed to
be evenly distributed on each log.

Maximum moment on one beam due to dead load:

6(2.7)
M =0 M = 18(2.7) − = 26.34kN ∙ m
M 2
= 121.5 kN ∙ m

Total Design Moment:

M  M D  M L  15 .19  26 .34  41 .53 kN .m

Using the moment computed, solve for the dimensions:

6M
bd 2 
Fb
6M
d
bFb
tryb  200mm
6(41.53)(10)6
d  254mm 𝑠𝑎𝑦 300mm
200(19.3)

NOTE: No need for size adjustment factor check since “d” does not exceed 300 mm.

L e  1 . 92 L u  1 . 92 ( 6000 )  11520 mm
Le d No need for slenderness factor adjustment,
11520 ( 300 )
Cs    9 . 29  10 hence no need to check on bending.
b2 ( 200 ) 2

14 STRUCTURAL DESIGN 2 BY: ANGELINE C. BULACAN

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Position of load to produce maximum shear on one beam:

M B 0
V (6)  10(6)  2.5(3)  6(6)3  0
V  29.26kN

3V 3(29.26)1000
fV    0.73MPa 1.96 MPa
2bd 2(200 )(300)

Less than the allowable.

Safe for shear!

Position of load to produce maximum moment on one beam:

Check for deflection:

Allowable deflection,

6000
 allow   20mm
300

Actual deflection,
1 Pb
1 
EI
 48 (3L2  4b 2 )]
1 10,000 ( 2700 ) 2500 (300 )
 [ (3[6000 ) 2  4( 2700 ) 2 ])  (3[6000 ]2  4[300 ]2 )
EI 48 48
4.603(10 )13 4.603(10 )13
 1   13 .28 mm
EI 200 (300 ) 3
7700 𝛿 =𝛿 +𝛿
12
5 wL4 5( 6)( 6000 ) 4 = 13.28 + 29.22 = 42.55𝑚𝑚 > 20𝑚𝑚
2    29 .22 mm
384 EI 200 (300 ) 3
384 (7700 )
12
Greater than the allowable.
REDESIGN!
Try 200 mm x 400 mm,

4.603(10)13 4.603(10)13 5wL4 5(6)(6000) 4

 1   5.604mm 2    12.33mm
EI 200(400) 3 384EI 200(400) 3
7700 384(7700)
12
12

 total  5 .604  12 . 33  17 . 934 mm  20 mm Less than the allowable.

Section is SAFE!!
Use 200mm x 400mm

15 STRUCTURAL DESIGN 2 BY: ANGELINE C. BULACAN