Structural

Design in
Timber

Modification
factors

Mohammadreza Khajehpour
Specified strength
How to select the right design table?
A SPF #2 section has the dimensions 140x191
is used as a beam exposed to bending forces.
What unit stress should we use to calculate the
bending capacity of the beam?
A SPF #2 section has the dimensions 140x191
is used as a beam exposed to bending forces.
What unit stress should we use to calculate the
bending capacity of the beam?
Same section (140x191) is used as an exterior
column exposed to gravity and wind loading.
What unit stress should we use to calculate the
bending capacity of the column?
Same section (140x191) is used as an exterior
column exposed to gravity and wind loading.
What unit stress should we use to calculate the
bending capacity of the column?
Specified strength - overview
This section is graded as a post and
timber due to it’s dimension. Table
6.3.1D needs to be used for all
specified strengths
Modification Factors
Modification Factors

• To adjust the specific strength to

account for material characteristics
specific to wood.

• Resistance:
– Resistance factor, Φ
Based on reliability analysis
= 0.9 for bending, shear and tension
= 0.8 for compression
Modification Factors

• Load duration factor, KD

• Short term (< 7 days), KD=1.15 (wind,

earthquake, formwork, impact)
• Standard term, KD=1.0 (snow, live, dead load in
combination with snow or live)
• Long term, KD=0.65 (dead load, earth pressure,
retaining wall)
 ???

100 KD = 1.15
Wind load most design
90 cases (~3 months)
Specified strength %

80
KD = 1.0
creep of the lignin matrix
Live load
70

60
KD = 0.65
Dead load
50

2000 4000 6000 8000 1 year 10,000

Load duration (hours)

Modification Factors - KD
What load combinations should be considered?
What case governs the design?
D = 20kN
L = 40 kN
S = 10 kN

W = 1.5 kN/m
Will combined loading always govern??
System factor, KH

• System Factor, KH

– Repetitive members
– Load distributed over several framing
members
• Failure of one member does not result in total
failure, so design is not based on weakest
element
• Does not apply to beams and columns
3 or more
members
sharing

Type 1 system
KH = 1.1
150mm edge nailing 9.5mm min. sheathing
300mm intermediate

3 or more
members
sharing

Type 2 system
KH = 1.4
• System Factor, KH
Modification Factors

• Service Condition Factor, KS

– Specified strengths of wood are based on test
results for dry service condition, average 15%
and not exceed 19%

KS can differ for different properties and wood

products
Modification Factors
• Service Condition Factor, KS
Modification Factors

• Size Factor, Kz

– Larger members tend to be weaker than

smaller members, due to the increased
probability for defects and certain sizes of
micro fractures
Modification Factors
• Size Factor, Kz
Modification Factors

• Treatment Factor, KT

– Preservative treatment appear to have little

effect on structural properties
– Incisions made for better solvent penetration
may affect the strength
 Chemical treatment of wood against
decay and fire

Typically no effect, except Fire retardant has a

when wood surface is incised weakening effect on strength
of wood
Modification Factors

• Treatment Factor, KT
Determine the specified strengths and
modification factors which could be
used in the design of the structural
components indicated below:
• A beam in an office building supporting temporary
construction load for five days.

• Residential floor in a house

• A column in a library (supporting a library floor)

• Preserved wood foundation column

A beam in an office building supporting
temporary construction load for five days.

Species D. Fire-L
KD
KS
KT
KH
Residential floor in a house

Species D. Fire-L
KD
KS
KT
KH
A column in a library

Species D. Fire-L
KD
KS
KT
KH
Preserved wood foundation column

Species D. Fire-L
KD
KS
KT
KH