FLEXURAL MEMBERS

Symbol use:
BENDING

L effective length
M design moment
MR moment of resistance
m,a,II applied bending stress parallel to grain
m,g,II grade bending stress parallel to grain
m,adm,II permissible bending stress parallel to grain

DEFLECTION

t total deflection
m bending deflection
v shear deflection
p permissible deflection
E modulus of elasticity
E mean mean modulus of elasticity
E min minimum modulus of elasticity
G shear modulus

EXAMPLES: Beams, rafters and joists. Based on effective span

(Clause 11.3).

Aspect consider:

(1) bending
(2) deflection
(3) lateral buckling
(4) shear
(5) bearing
Effective Span

Clause 11.3: Distance between the centres of bearing.

BENDING (FLEXURAL MEMBER)

The design moment, M, must not exceed the moment of resistance,

MR.

Thus, M MR
The design moment is a function of the applied loads. The moment
of resistance for a beam can be derived from the theory of bending.

Bending stress, = My/I = M/Z or M = Z

where Z = I/y = section modulus = bd2/6 for rectangular beam

Therefore, MR = m,admII Zxx

The permissible bending stress,

m,admII = m,g,II x k1 x k6 x k2

k1 duration of load
k2 load sharing
k6 depth factor

For a given design moment the minimum required section

modulus, Zxx required can be calculated as follows:

Zxx req M / m,admII

Suitable timber section can then be selected from Table B3a.

The selected section then should be checked for deflection, lateral
buckling, shear and bearing.

DEFLECTION

Excessive deflection causes : damage to surfacing materials,

ceilings, partitions and finishes, functional needs and aesthetic
requirements.

Clause 11.7 recommends that the member when fully loaded does
not exceed 0.003 of the span,

t 0.003 x span

For longer span domestic floor joists, the deflection under full load
should not exceed 0.003 x span or 14 mm, whichever is lesser.

The deflection of solid timber members acting alone should be

calculated using minimum modulus of elasticity.

Load sharing members use mean modulus of elasticity

Deflection formula
P
w

L L

LATERAL BUCKLING
If flexural member are not effectively laterally restrained, it is
possible for the member to twist sideways before reaching its full
flexural strength causing it to fail in bending, shear or deflection.
This situation is called lateral buckling and can be prevented by
making sure that the depth to breadth ratios as given in Table 7 is
adhered.

SHEAR

To prevent flexural member to fail in shear, the applied shear stress

parallel to grain, a, should not exceed the permissible shear stress,
adm:

a adm

For rectangular beam, the maximum applied shear stress occurs at

the neutral axis and is given by:

a = 3Fv/2A
where
Fv applied maximum vertical shear force
A - cross-sectional area

adm = g x k1 x k2 x k4 (as appropriate)

where k1 duration of loading

k2 - load sharing
k4 - notched end
g - grade shear stress parallel to the grain

BEARING PERPENDICULAR TO GRAIN

Bearing failure can occur in flexural members which are supported
at their ends on narrow beams or wall plates. Can be avoided by
following the following rules:
c,a, c,adm,
where,
c,a, - applied bearing stress
c,adm, - permissible compressive stress perpendicular to the
grain
c,a, = F/blb

F bearing force (usually maximum reaction)

b breadth of section
lb bearing length

c,adm, = c,g, x K1 x K2 x K3

K1 Duration of loading
K2 Load Sharing
K3 - Bearing

EXAMPLE

A timber beam with a clear span of 2.85 m supports a uniformly

distributed load of 10 kN including self-weight of beam.
Determine a suitable section for the beam using dressed Kasah
common building grade species with moisture content less than
19%. Assume that the bearing length is 150 mm and that the ends
of the beam are held in position and compression edge held in line.
 W=10 kN

150 mm 150 mm
2850 mm

(1) Effective span

Distance between centres of bearing (l) = 3000 mm

(2) Grade stress and modulus of Elasticity for Kasah:

From Table 2,
Bending parallel to grain, m,g,II = 7 N/mm2
Shear parallel to grain, g = 1.10 N/mm2
Compression perpendicular to grain, c,g, = 1.27 N/mm2
Modulus of Elasticity, Emin = 5700 N/mm2

(3) Modification Factors

K1 duration of loading = 1.0 (Long term)

K2 load sharing = not applicable since it is only a single beam
K6 depth factor = assuming depth of beam less than 300 mm
hence K6 is not applicable.

(4) Bending

M = wl/8 = 10 x 3/8 = 3.75 kNm

m,admII = m,g,II x k1
= 7 x 1 = 7 N/mm2
 Zxx req M / m,admII

= 3.75 x 106/7 = 536 x 103 mm3.

(5) Deflection

Permissible deflection (p) = 0.003 x span

= 0.003 x 3000 = 9 mm

t = 5Wl3/384EminIxx

p t

0.003 x 3000 5 x 104 x 30003/384 x 5700 x Ixx

Therefore, Ixx 68.5 x 106 mm4

From Table B4,

Select section 150 x 200 mm
Zxx = 621 x 103 mm3, Ixx = 80 x 106 mm4, A=26600mm2

Check deflection, t = 5 x 104x30003/384x5700x80x106

= 7.71 mm OK

(6) Lateral Buckling

Permissible d/b = 5 (Table 7)

Actual d/b = 200/150 = 1.3 < 5 OK

Hence the section is adequate for lateral buckling

 (7) Shear

Permissible shear stress, adm = g x k1 x k2 x k4

= 1.10 x 1 = 1.10 N/mm2

Maximum shear force, Fv = W/2 = 10 x 103/4 = 5 x 103N

Maximum shear stress at neutral axis is:

a = 3Fv/2A

= 3 x 5x103/2x 26600

= 0.28 N/mm2 < 1.10 N/mm2 OK

Therefore section adequate in shear

(8) Bearing

Permissible bearing stress, c,adm, = c,g, x K1 x K2 x K3

= 1.27 x 1.0 = 1.27 N/mm2

End reaction, Fs, is : W/2 = 5 x103 N

c,a, = F/blb
= 5x103/150x150 = 0.22 N/mm2 < 1.27 N/mm2 OK

Since all checks are satisfactory, use 150 x 200 mm dressed sawn
timber of Kasah species.

EXAMPLE 2
Design the timber floor joist for a domestic dwelling using
common dry grade timber of strength group SG 5 given that:
(a) the joist are spaced at 400 mm centres
(b) the floor has an effective span of 3.8 m
(c) the flooring is tongue and groove boarding with self
weight of 0.1 kN/mm2
(d) the ceiling is of plasterboard with self weight of 0.2
kN.m2.
Floor deck tongue and groove boarding

Plasterboard
ceiling

400 mm 400 mm

ANSWER

Design Loading

Tongue and groove boarding = 0.10 kN/m2

Ceiling = 0.20 kN/m2
Joists (say) = 0.10 kN/m2 (assumed)
Imposed floor load for domestic dwelling = 1.5 kN/m2

Total load = 1.9 kN/m2

W = joist spacing x effective span x load

= 0.4 x 3.8 x 1.9 = 2.9 kN
2. Grade Stresses and modulus of Elasticity SG5

Bending parallel to grain, m,g,II = 7.1 N/mm2

Compression perpendicular to grain, c,g, = 1.06 N/mm2
Shear parallel to grain, g = 0.86 N/mm2
Modulus of elasticity, Emean = 9100 N/mm2

3. Modification factors

K1 duration of loading = 1.0 (long term)

K2 load sharing = 1.1 (more than 4 members)
K3 depth factor = not applicable (less than 300 mm)

4. Bending

Bending moment = WL/8 = 2.9x3.8/8 = 1.4 kNm

m,admII = m,g,II x K1 x K2 = 7.1 x 1 x 1.1

= 7.81 N/mm2

Zxx req M / m,admII

= 1.4 x 106/7.81 = 179 x103mm3

From Table B4, try 100 x 150 mm(Zxx = 189 x 103 mm3, Ixx =
20.6 x 106mm4, A = 12600 mm2)

5. Deflection

Permissible deflection (p) = 0.003 x span

= 0.003 x 3800 = 11.4mm

t = 5Wl3/384EminIxx
= 5 x 2.9x103x(3.8x103)3/384x9.1x103x20.6x106
= 11.05 mm < permisible
 Therefore size 100x150 mm joist is adequate in bending

6. Lateral buckling

Permissible d/b = 5
Actual d/b = 150/100 = 1.5 < 5

Lateral buckling adequate.

7. Shear

Permissible stress, adm = g x k1 x k2 x k4

= 0.86 x 1 x 1.1
= 0.946 N/mm2

Max. shear force, Fv = W/2 = 2.9 x103/2 =1.45 x103 N

a = 3Fv/2A

= 3 x 1.45x103/2x 12600
= 0.17 N/mm2 < permissible
Therefore shear adequate.

8. Bearing

Permissible bearing stress, c,adm, = c,g, x K1 x K2 x K3

= 1.06 x 1x1.1 = 1.17 N/mm2

Max. end reaction, F = W/2 = 2.9x103/2 = 1.45 x103 N

Assume floor joists span on a 100 mm wide wall plates,

bearing stress,
 c,a, = F/blb
= 1.45x103/100x100 = 0.145N/mm2 < 1.17 OK

Section adequate in bearing

9. Check assume weight

Average density in SG5 approx. 700 kg/m3

Hence self weight,

(100x150x10-6) x 700x9.81x10-3/0.4 = 0.25 kN/m2 >
than 0.1 kN/m2 assumed.

Checking should be done using the calculated self weight

especially the deflection requirement.

Notched floor joist

The joist as the above example are to be notched at the

bearings with 75 mm deep notch as shown below. Check that
the notched section is still adequate.

125

75

The present of notch affects only the shear stresses in the

joists. For a notched member the permissible shear stress is
given by:
adm = g x k1 x k2 x k4

where K4 = he/h = 125/200 = 0.625

Hence, adm = g x 1.0 x1.1 x0.625

= 0.86 x 1.0 x 1.1 x0.625 = 0.59 N/mm2
<applied shear stress(0.17 N/mm2 ) OK