“TIMBER

STRUCTURES”
Design of
Compression
Members MS544

PRESENTED BY:
DR. NORSHARIZA MOHAMAD BHKARI
IIESM, UiTM
 COURSE OUTCOME

CO 1 : Apply engineering knowledge of basic

fundamentals design of steel and timber
structures.

CO 2 : Design the basic structural components

of steel and timber using relevant codes of
practices.

2
 PROGRAMME OUTCOME

PO 2 : Identify, formulate, research literature and

analyse complex civil engineering problems
reaching substantiated conclusions using first
principles of mathematics, natural sciences and
engineering sciences.

PO 5 : Create, select and apply appropriate

techniques, resources, and modern engineering and
IT tools, including prediction and modeling, to
complex civil engineering problems, with an
understanding of the limitations.
3
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

• Explain the failure modes of compression member.
• Design the timber compression member.

4
Introduction
• Timber section are commonly used in
construction as axially loaded members or
members in combined axial force and bending
.
• Members of a truss, posts or columns, vertical
wall studs and bracing elements are typical
examples.
 Introduction
• Example: columns, vertical wall studs and struts.
Wall studs Top rail/plate Cladding material

Studs

Noggings

Diagonal braces

Bottom rail/plate

(a) Elevation
y Studs

x x
610 mm maximum for
y load sharing
(c) Cross-section
The terms struts is usually used when referring to
members in lattice/truss frameworks, the part of the
structure that has a tensile force acting on it is called a
TIE and the part that has a compressive force acting on it
is called a STRUT.
Struts are commonly used for smaller compression
members and fail in buckling.
FAILURE MODE

• Column is generally applied to relatively

heavy vertical members.
• Mode of failure in short column is crushing or
shearing at an angle of approximately 45
degrees to the axis.
FAILURE MODE
• Long column will fail in buckling and the failure
load is dependent on the modulus of elasticity
and is governed by the well known Euler formula.
• Column of ‘intermediate’ length will fail by a
combination of crushing and buckling.
FAILURE MODE
• Because of these, the design of columns requires a
modification factor to take care of buckling which is
related to the slenderness ratio of the member.

• The failure occur is influenced by several variables:

1. The cross-sectional shape of the member
The slenderness of the member
The permissible stress of the material
DESIGN CONSIDERATION
The main design considerations for compression
members are:
• Slenderness ratio. This relates to position
restraints of ends, lateral restraint along the
length and cross-section dimensions of the
member.
• Axial compression and bending stress.
• Deflection. Only for member both axial and
bending. The maximum deflection = 0.003 x
height of column
 Consideration on the design of
compression members
a) Straightness of the compression members (Clause 12.1)
- the straightness of columns should put more attention.
- the limiting bow is to approximately 1/300 of lengths.

b) Size factor (Clause 12.2)

- the grade compression stress in Table 4.3 to 4.5 apply to all solid members graded to
MGR.

c) Effective length (Clause 12.3)

- the effective length of a compression member should be derived from the deflected form
of the compression members as affected by any restraint and/or fixing moment (s), the
effective lengths being the distance between adjacent points of zero bending between
which the Member is in single curvature
 Table 9 (MS 544 Part 2) for the particular end conditions;
Table 5.1 Effective length of compression members (Table 18, BS 5268 : Part 2)

The effective length is determined by:

 Positional restrained at each end of the column (i.e. whether or not there is relative sway
between the two ends)
 Directional restrained at ends (i.e. whether or not there is fixity at one or both ends)
 Lateral restrained along the length
 Effective lengths and end conditions

Le = 0.7 L Le = 0.85 L Le = 1.0 L Le = 1.5 L Le = 2.0 L

 Bracing Buckle shape of column
braced length

Without sideways

Column

Buckled shape of
Unbraced length
column

With sideways

Column
 Slenderness Ratio, 
• The load-carrying capacity of compression members is a function of the
slenderness ratio, , which as the effective length, LE , divided by the radius
of gyration, r:
LE

r

The radius of gyration, r, is given by

 I 
r  
 A
Where,
I = second moment of area
A = cross sectional area
Usually b < d,
b
r
12
 Slenderness Ratio (cont.)
• Clause 12.4 MS544:P2 recommends that the slenderness ratio
should not exceed a value of :

•   180, for (i) compression members carrying dead and

imposed loads other than loads resulting from wind. (ii) Any
compression member, however loaded, which by its
deformation will adversely affect the stress in another member
carrying dead and imposed loads other than wind.

•   250, for any members subject to reversal of axial stress

from the effect of wind and any compression member carrying
self-weight and wind loads only.
Permissible stress (Compression without bending)

For λ < 5 – without undue eccentricity loading

δ c,adm,II =δ c,g,II x modification factor K1, K2

Load duration Load sharing

For λ ≥ 5

δ c,adm,II =δ c,g,II x modification factor (size, moisture content,

duration load and load
sharing and K8)

K8 = modification factor for compression member

Modification Factor for Compression Members, K8
• Refer to Clause 12.5 MS544:P2
• The modification factor for compression members, K8 can be
determined using Table 10 MS544:P2 or calculated from the
equation given in Appendix D

1
 1 1    E    1 1    2 E  
2 2
2
 2E
K8          
 2 2 N  2
 c   2 2 N  2
 c  N 2
c 

Modification Factor for Compression Members, K8
Modification Factor for Compression Members, K8
Members Subjected to Axial Compression Only
The axial compression stress,  c,ɑ,II =
P
A

P= axial compression load

A= cross-sectional area
The permissible stress, 
c,ɑdm,II
c, adm, II  c, II  K1 K 2  K 8
K 8 = value from Table 10
C= compression stress // to grain
 Steps of design of solid timber column
(without bending)
1. Find a trial section from Table 3 MS 544 Part 2.

2. Find the grade compressive stress parallel to grain and Minimum E from Table 4.5. (
δ c,g,II and E min)

3. Calculate the following properties. (if no bracing, use weaker axis,

I xx h b
ixx   i yy 
A 12 12
A = bh
Le
Slenderness ratio, λ = i
xx
4. Obtain the permissible compressive stress parallel to grain.
For λ < 5
δ c,adm,II = δ c,g,II x K1, K2

For λ ≥ 5
δ c,adm,II = δ c,g,II x K1, K2, K8

5. Calculate axial compressive stress

δ c,a,II = F F = axial load
A A = Cross sectional area

6. Members subject to axial compression only

δ c,a,ll ≤ δ c,adm,II
 To design a solid column without
lateral loading
Example 1
Given
Axial load (Dead + temporary imposed) = 60 kN
Actual length of column = 4.7 m,
Column is fixed at one end and pinned at the other, i.e.
column is restrained at both ends in position and one end direction.
Spacing of column = 4.5 m
Timber : Strength group SG3. Standards grade, green (green stress is
assumed because columns are normally wet when constructed because of their
size)
2. K factors

K8
Size = 120 x 120
Area, A = 14 400 mm2
Then need to check that the permissible axial load is not exceed Fa < Fp

Permissible compressive stress, Fp

δ c,adm,ll = σc = σc ,g,// x k1 x k2 x k8
= 12 x 1.25 x 1.0 x 0.26
= 3.9 N/mm2

δ c,a,ll = Fp = δ c,adm,ll
A

Fp = Permissible axial load = 3.9 x 14400

1000
= 52.6 kN

but Fp < Fa = 60 kN *not satisfied

Change size to a bigger size, let size 150 mm x 150 mm
 To design a solid column without
lateral loading
Example 2
A timber column of SG3 std and dry consist of a 100mm
square section which is constrained at both ends in position
but not in direction. Assuming that the actual height of the
column is 3.75m, calculate the maximum axial long term
load that the column can support.
Solution

Since both ends are pinned, Le = 1.0L

Effective span, Le = 1.0 x 3.75 m = 3750 mm

Le 3750
Slenderness ratio, λ = 
i i

I db 3 12 b 100
i     28.867
A db 12 12

λ = 3750 = 129.90 < 180 *OK for only axial load

28.867

Grade stresses and modulus of elasticity, compression parallel to grain,

δ c,g,ll = 14.1 N/mm2

Modulus of elasticity, E min = 10300 N/mm2

Modification factor, K1 = 1.0 (long term)

C = δ c,g,ll x K1 = 14.1 N/mm2

E min = 10300 = 730.5

C 14.1
λ = 129.9 ≈ 130

Therefore K8 from Table 6.2, K8 = 0.232

Therefore permissible compression stress parallel to grain,

δ c,adm,ll = C x K8
= 14.1 x 0.232
= 3.27 N/mm2
The maximum applied axial long term load

Fa = δ c,adm,ll x A
= 3.27 N/mm2 x (100 x 100) m2
= 32.7 kN
Design for members subject to axial
compression and bending
Members subjected to axial loads as well as side pressure caused by wind.
So the column should satisfy the interaction formula,

 m,a  c ,a
 1
   c ,a    c ,adm

 m ,adm1  1.5  
 K8 
  e  
Where δ m,a : applied bending stress
δ m,adm : permissible bending stress
δ c,a : applied compression stress
δ c,adm : permissible compression stress (including K8)
 2E  2E
δe : Euler critical stress = 
 Le i
K8 : modification factor for column as given in Table 10
Note :
For load sharing member multiply by K7 = 1.1

Z   c ,a   m,a 
Deflection, y'  n   0.005Le
A  e   c ,a  
Under wind load
5 WL4
  X  0.003Le
384 E1
In general
 Step in design of solid timber column
with bending
1. Find a trial section (Table 3 MS 544 Part 2)
2. Calculate the geometrical properties

bh 2 i
I

h i, A, λ
Z xx 
6 A 12

3. Find the grade stresses

Compression // and bending and Emin
4. Bending
a) Obtain max bending moment due to wind loading.
wL2 M
M  and calculate applied bending stress,  m,a 
8 Z

b) Calculate permissible bending stress, δ c,adm,ll

= δ c,g,ll x K1 x K2 x k5 x k6 x K8
Check that δ m,adm > δ m,a
5. Compression
a) Obtain applied compressive stress,
P
 c ,a 
A
b) Calculate the permissible compressive stress.
δ c,adm = δc,g,// x K1 x K2 x K8

Calculate buckling modification factor K8 if λ ≥ 5

Check that δ c,adm,// > δ c,a,//

6. Check the interaction formula is satisfied.

Clause 12.6

7. Check for the deflection.

Exercise 1

A sawn timber column in strength class SG5 is 4 m height

with standard grade at 19% of moisture content with a
rectangular cross section of 100 x 150 mm. The column is
restrained at both ends in positions but not in direction.
(a) Determine the maximum axial long term load that the
column can support.
(b) Check that the column is adequate to resist a long term
axial load of 12 kN and a bending moment of 1.0 kNm
about x-x axis.
 Check the slenderness ratio;
λ = Le/i

 Grade stress;
Bending parallel to grain =
Compression parallel to grain =
Emin =

 K factors;
K1 =
k2 =
k5 =
k6 =
k8 =
7. Check for the deflection.
 THANK YOU
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