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DESIGN CALCULATIONS - WOOD STRENGTH Home Menu
COPYRIGHT Ti m Lovett Jul y 2004
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Wood is orthotropic - the strength is predominantly along one axis. Parallel to the grain, tensile is very high (pulling it) and
compressive strength good (a pier), but shear is low. Perpendicular to the grain the tensile is very low (splitting action) and
compression moderate (denting a floorboard), but shear is high (shearing a dowel pin). There is another type of shear (rolling
shear) which is low. Some of these properties are not normally measured because timber is rarely used in that situation today.
For example, cross grain shear strength is so high compared to parallel shear that it can only occur if the timber was deliberately
shear loaded (dowel pin). Since we hardly ever use timber as a structural fastener (apart from trivial furniture connections), cross
grain shear is not normally measured.
For loads at a angle to the grain, the Hankinson formula gives the adjusted property values. Note that 45 degrees gives a value
much less than midway between the two values.
Hankinson's Formula
Consider a particular property such as
strength or stiffness. Assuming the property
measured along the grain (P) is different to the
cross grain value (Q).
Then, by Hankinson's formula, the value at an
angle to the grain is given by
Example. Strength of Douglas Fir
Parallel tensile strength = 87.6 MPa
Perpendicular tensile strength = 2 MPa

Angle Strength
0 87.6
5 66.10752
10 38.24362
15 22.65289
20 14.58384
25 10.13379
30 7.487179
35 5.808722
40 4.688521
45 3.910714

Similarly for elasticity, the MoE of wood perpendicular to grain is about 1/50 the value of MoE parallel to grain. Hankinsons
formula is: (Ref 1)

where
E
l
MoE parallel to grain (as given in Table 7.1 of AS1720.1)
E
p
MoE perpendicular to grain (estimated as 1/50 to 1/30 E
l
)

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Douglas Fir. Ultimate Properties (Failure)
Species
Density
pcf,
MOR or
Ft(||)
MOE or
E
Comp
Parallel
Fc (||)
Comp
Perp
Fc(_|_)
Shear
Parallel
Fs(||)
Shear
Perp
Fs(_|_)
Tension
Perp
Fp(_|_)
Tension
Perp Tangent
Fpt(_|_)
Tension
Parallel Fp(||)
Units 12% MC psi k psi psi psi psi psi psi psi psi
Douglas
Fir
34 (4)

12700 (4)
12400
(13)
1950 (4)
7430 (4)
7430 (9)
7230 (13)
870 (4)
800 (4)
1160 (4)
1130 (13)
3190 (1)
290 (7)
290 (8)
340 (9) 11000 (13)
Douglas Fir. Coastal type. Allowable Properties (Working)
Species
Density
pcf,
MOR or
Ft(||)
MOE or E
Comp
Parallel Fc
(||)
Comp
Perp
Fc(_|_)
Shear
Parallel
Fs(||)
Shear
Perp
Fs(_|_)
Tension
Parallel
Ft(||)
Tension
Perp
Ft(_|_)
Units 12% MC psi k psi psi psi psi psi psi psi
Douglas Fir
Coastal
Type
34
2000 (11)
1500 (12)

1466 (11)
1150 (12)
385 (11)
625 (12)
150 (11)
85 (12)



References
Online
1. Perpendicular shear estimate (2.5 to 3 times parallel shear). Wood: Strength and Stiffness. p2.
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2001/green01d.pdf
2. Hankinson's Formula (Elasticity) http://www.timber.org.au/NTEP/menu.asp?id=128
3. Hankinson's Formula (Stress) example http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/esc/construction/Manuals/Falsework/Appendix_E.pdf
4. Wood: Strength and Stiffness. p2. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2001/green01d.pdf
5. Span tables Douglas Fir 1:360 deflection http://www.wwpa.org/techguide/spans.htm
6. Large round log connection using metal dowels (threaded) http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrp/fplrp586.pdf
7. Tensile strength perp to grain (Douglas Fir) http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08132002-
140200/unrestricted/AppendixF.pdf , http://www.rfyacht.com/yd/1524/dissertation/appendix/a5.htm
8. Properties of wood http://www.unb.ca/civil/thomas/22%20Properties%20of%20Wood.pdf
9. Wood
11: MCM 1 Ship Specifications, February 8, 1982 Section 100. (Source: http://www.maritime.org/conf/conf-davis.htm)
12: Allowable Stress, Douglas Fir Select Structural (Standard no. 17, Grading Rules for West Coast Lumber, Table 11). (Source:
http://www.maritime.org/conf/conf-davis.htm)
13: Failure Stress. Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, Forest Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural
Handbook 72, 1987.
14. Free Structural Software. http://www.structural-engineering.fsnet.co.uk/free.htm
Books
1. Formulas for Stress and Strain. 5th ed: Raymond J Roark Warren C Young McGraw Hill 1975. Ch 13.3 Miscellaneous
Cases p 526.
2. Design of Wood Structures ASD (4th Edition): D.E. Breyer, K.J. Fridley, K.E. Cobeen: McGraw-Hill 1999 ISBN: 0-07007716-
9 950 pages. Comprehensive treatment and plenty of examples. Incorporates the 1997 National Design Specifications for Wood
Construction (NDS), and the 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC). Also loading criteria and lateral forces (wind and earthquake)
design.
3. APA Engineered Wood Handbook. T.G. Williamson (Editor), McGraw Hill 2002 ISBN 0-07-136029-8. Comprehensive coverage,
emphasis on modern materials and developments. Good section on construction.
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4. Mark's Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers. (10th Ed) Avalline, Baumeister. (Editors) McGraw Hill 1996