Lecture 30 Timber Columns

The load-carrying capacity of columns and other compression members is greatly dependent upon the slenderness ratio, which is the ratio between the unbraced length and the cross-sectional dimension of the member. Slenderness ratio = SR =
L d

Examples of unbraced length for a wood nominal 2x10:

The column on the left is laterally braced only at the top and bottom. The slenderness ratios are as follows: (SR)strong axis =
(8'0" )(12" / ft ) 9.25"

(SR)weak axis =

(8'0" )(12" / ft ) 1.5"

= 10.4

= 64 unacceptable

NOTE: The maximum permissible SR = 50

Lecture 30 - Page 1 of 8

The column to the right is laterally braced at the mid-height in the weak axis and at the top and bottom for the strong axis. (SR)strong axis =
(8'0" )(12" / ft ) 9.25"

(SR)weak axis =

(4'0" )(12" / ft ) 1.5"

= 10.4 Column Load Capacity per NDS: Pallow = (Fc*)(Cp)(A) where: Pallow = allowable axial load on the column, lbs.

= 32

Fc* = revised allowable compressive stress parallel to grain, PSI = Fc(CD)(CM) Fc = tabulated compressive stress parallel to grain, PSI CD = Load duration factor (see Lecture 29 notes) CM = moisture factor used if MC > 19% = 1.0 if MC < 19% = 0.8 if MC > 19% Cp = column stability factor
F 1+ ( cE ) Fc * = 2c FcE F ( cE ) 1 + ( F * ) F * c c c 2c
2

FcE =

( K cE )( E ) ( SR) 2 max
KcE = 0.3 for visually graded lumber = 0.384 for machine-evaluated lumber = 0.418 for glulam E = tabulated modulus of elasticity, PSI c = 0.8 for sawn lumber = 0.85 for round timber = 0.90 for glulam

A = cross-sectional member area, in2

Lecture 30 - Page 2 of 8

Example 1 GIVEN: Nominal 4x6 Douglas Fir-Larch No. 2 grade columns are used as formwork to carry temporary construction loading of 125 PSF (including dead loads) as shown below. The frame is subject to rain and wet conditions. The columns are laterally braced at the top and bottom only. The 4x6 is considered to be Dimension Lumber. REQUIRED: 1) What is the maximum allowable load, Pallow for each of the columns? 2) Are the columns acceptable?

Step 1 Determine Fc*: Fc* = Fc(CD)(CM) Fc = 1350 PSI from Table in Lecture 29 notes CD = 1.25 for construction loads (see Lecture 29 notes) CM = 0.80 since MC > 19% Fc* = 1350 PSI(1.25)(0.80) = 1350 PSI

Lecture 30 - Page 3 of 8

Step 2 Determine maximum slenderness ratio (SR)max: (SR)strong axis =

(10'0" )(12" / ft ) 5.5"

(SR)weak axis =

(10'0" )(12" / ft ) 3.5"

= 21.8

= 34.3

(SR)max = 34.3 Step 3 Determine FcE: FcE =

( K cE )( E ) ( SR) 2 max
KcE = 0.3 since it is sawn lumber E = 1,600,000 PSI (see Table from Lecture 29 notes)

FcE =

(0.3)(1,600,000 PSI ) (34.3) 2

= 408 PSI Step 4 Determine column stability factor Cp:

F 1+ ( cE ) Fc * Cp = 2c FcE F ( cE ) 1 + ( F * ) F * c c c 2c
2

where

FcE 408PSI = = 0.30 Fc * 1350PSI

c = 0.8 since column is sawn lumber

1 + (0.3) 1 + (0.3) 0.3 Cp = 2(0.8) 0.8 2(0.8) = 0.81 0.53 = 0.28

Lecture 30 - Page 4 of 8

Step 5 Determine allowable axial load, Pallow: Pallow = (Fc*)(Cp)(A) = (1350 PSI)(0.28)(3.5 x 5.5) Pallow = 7277 lbs. Step 6 Determine actual load on each column, Pactual: Pactual = (Trib. Area)(PSF) = (14-0 x 9-0)(125 PSF) Pactual = 3938 lbs. < 7277 lbs. column is acceptable

Design of Wood Columns: The direct design (selection) of wood columns is complicated because of the number of unknowns. Therefore, column design is typically one of TRIAL and ERROR. Design aids such as pre-engineered graphs and spreadsheets are often used for the selection of column members as shown in the table below:

Col. Section Nom. Area Size: (in2) 4x4 12.25 4x6 19.25 6x6 30.25 6x8 41.25 8x8 56.25 8x10 71.25 10x10 90.25 10x12 109.25

Unbraced Length about weak axis (feet)

8 7.3 11.4 24.8 33.9 51.5 65.3 85.9 104.0 10 4.9 7.8 20.9 28.5 48.1 61.0 83.0 100.0 12 3.5 5.5 16.9 23.1 43.5 55.1 79.0 95.6 14 2.6 4.1 13.4 18.3 38.0 48.1 73.6 89.1 16 18 20 22

10.7 14.6 32.3 41.0 67.0 81.2

8.7 11.9 27.4 34.7 60.0 72.6

7.2 9.8 23.1 29.3 52.9 64.0

6.5 8.9 19.7 24.9 46.4 56.1

Allowable axial load, Pallow, (kips) for Douglas Fir-Larch No. 1 grade CD = 1.0

Lecture 30 - Page 5 of 8

Example 2 GIVEN: An exterior wall is built using Southern Pine No. 2 grade 2x6 studs at 16 o.c. with thick plywood sheathing nailed to the studs. The walls are to be designed to carry snow as well as live and dead loads. REQUIRED: What is the maximum permissible load on the wall in terms of pounds per linear foot of wall?

Step 1 Determine Fc*: Fc* = Fc(CD)(CM) Fc = 1650 PSI from Table in Lecture 29 notes CD = 1.15 for snow loads (see Lecture 29 notes) CM = 1.0 since MC < 19% Fc* = 1650 PSI(1.15)(1.0) = 1898 PSI

Lecture 30 - Page 6 of 8

Step 2 Determine maximum slenderness ratio (SR)max: (SR)strong axis =

(9'0" )(12" / ft ) 5.5"

(SR)weak axis = Negligible since it is continuously laterally braced by the plywood sheathing

= 19.6

(SR)max = 19.6 Step 3 Determine FcE: FcE =

( K cE )( E ) ( SR) 2 max
KcE = 0.3 since it is sawn lumber E = 1,600,000 PSI (see Table from Lecture 29 notes)

FcE =

(0.3)(1,600,000 PSI ) (19.6) 2

= 1249 PSI Step 4 Determine column stability factor Cp:

F 1+ ( cE ) Fc * Cp = 2c FcE F ( cE ) 1 + ( F * ) F * c c c 2c
2

where

FcE 1249PSI = = 0.66 Fc * 1898PSI

c = 0.8 since stud is sawn lumber

1 + (0.66) 1 + (0.66) 0.66 Cp = 2(0.8) 0.8 2(0.8) = 0.54

Lecture 30 - Page 7 of 8

Step 5 Determine allowable axial load, Pallow: Pallow = (Fc*)(Cp)(A) = (1898 PSI)(0.54)(1.5 x 5.5) Pallow = 8456 lbs. per stud
12" Allowable wall load = 8456 = 6342 pounds per linear foot 16"

Lecture 30 - Page 8 of 8