STRUCTURAL TIMBER DESIGN BS 5268 Part 2: 2002

INTRODUCTION

Structural timber can be used for;

• Temporarily works e.g., Trenches, scaffolding, shoring

• Permanent works e.g., Trusses, joist (Timber beam), floor boards, column(post)

Timber can be used in various forms e.g., Solids, built-up, laminated etc.

Strength capability of timber is difficult to assess as we have no control over its quality and
growth. The strength is defined as the natural resistance of a material to failure. In general
situations, failure is deemed to have taken place when the applied stress reaches the elastic
limit. Strength tests are carried out to BS373 or to ASTMD143-52 and is determined from
small (20mm x 20mm or 50mm x 50mm), oven dried, clear (free from any defects) test
pieces. The strength obtained is known as basic strength and must be subjects to a
modifying factor to obtain the strength of a specific grade of timber of the same species.
Strength tests can also be carried out on selected structural size test pieces of the timber to be
used. The sets are carried out to BS5820 or to EN480.

The following are the basic methods using factor of safety to achieve safe and workable
structures

• The load factor method – in which the collapsible loads are divide by a factor of safety.
• The limit state method – the working loads by partial factors of safety and also divides
the material ultimate strengths by further partial factor of safety
• The permissible stress method – the ultimate strength of the materials is multiply by a
factor of safety to provide design stresses which are usually within the elastic range.

The permissible stress in timber is a product of the grade stress and several modification
factors to allow for moisture condition, duration of load, load sharing, slenderness, etc.
The permissible stress design philosophy as in BS 5268; part 2, is different from the limit
states design philosophy of Eurocode 5 which has 2 basic requirements.
 1) The ultimate limit state (safety) is expressed in terms of load-carrying capacity and is
achieved by factoring up of load values and factoring down of material strength
properties by partial safety factors that reflect the reliability of values that they
modify.
2) The serviceability limit state (i.e. deformation and vibration limits) refers to the
ability of a structural system and its elements to perform satisfactory in normal use.

NB:

In permissible stress design philosophy partial safety factors ( i.e. modification factors) are
applied only to the material properties i.e. for the calculation of permissible stress and not to
the loading.

a) Permissible Stress Design or elastic design

In this design, the stresses in the structure at working loads are not allowed to exceed a certain
proportion of the yield stress of the material. The stress levels are limited within the elastic
range. By assuming that the stress-strain relationship over this range is linear, it is possible to
calculate the actual stress in the material concerned.
Draw backs:
- Design process tend to complicate the design process and leads to conservation solutions.
- For materials such as concrete the stress-strain relationship may not be linear thus, it is
difficult to determine the stress within the elastic range.

b) Load Factor Design or plastic design

Developed to take account of the behavior of the structure once the yield point of the materials
has been reached. This involves calculating the collapse load of the structure. The working
load is obtained by dividing the collapse load by a load factor.

c) Limit state design

This could be seen as a compromise between the permissible and load factor methods. Most
modern structural codes of practice are now based on the limit state approach. Principal
exceptions are the code of practice for design in timber, BS 5268, and structural steel code,
BS 449, both of which are permissible stress codes. The Euro code for timber (EC5), is based
on limit state principles.
A limit state is simply a state beyond which a structure no longer satisfies its performance
requirements.
Ultimate limit states are associated with collapse or similar forms of structural failure that
may endanger the safety of people, and generally involve the consideration of strength and
stability.
Serviceability limit states are associated with user discomfort or dissatisfaction or a lack of
functionality, and generally involve the consideration of deformation (i.e. the deflections of
members or slip in connections).
Partial safety factors are used to increase the values of loads and to decrease the material
strength values

Ways in which the structure may become unfit for use:

-excessive bending, shear, compression, deflection and cracking.
Each of these mechanisms is a limit state whose effect on the structure must be individually
assessed.
The ultimate limit states enables the designer calculate the strength of the structure.
Serviceability limit states model the behavior of the structure at working loads.
Other limit states are durability and fire resistance.

Characteristic and design values

When designing, one is never certain about the amount of load that the structure will be
subjected and the strength of the material from which the structure is made.
The material strength may be less than intended because of:
- its variable composition
- the variability of manufacturing conditions during construction
- other effects such as corrosion

The load in a member of a structure may be greater than anticipation because of :

- the variability of the occupancy or environmental loading
- unforeseen circumstances which may lead to an increase in general level of loading, errors
in the analysis, errors during construction e.t.c.

The variability in material composition and loading is allowed for by using a characteristic
value.
Characteristic values are generally 5th percentile values derived directly from a statistical
analysis of laboratory test results.
The characteristic strength value is determined from test results using statistical principles,
and is normally defined as the value below which not more than 5% test results fall.
The characteristic load is the value above which only a small percentage (usually 5 %) of the
test results of the load recorded over time lies.
In both ultimate and serviceability limit states, characteristic values of both the loads and the
material properties are modified by specified partial factors of safety that reflect the variability
of the values that they modify. These factors increase the loads and decrease the values of the
material properties.

Factor of safety
These are determined using statistics and pre-selected probability of failure. They are used to
take care of the following
- Variability of construction
- Inconsistency of construction material
- Possible increase in load
- Inaccurate assessment of loads
- Unforeseen stress distributions
- Variation in dimensional accuracy

A factor of unity or less is applied to the resistances of the material, and a factor of unity or
greater to the loads. These factors can differ significantly for different materials or even
between differing grades of the same material. The factors applied to resistance also account
for the degree of scientific confidence in the derivation of the values i.e smaller values used
when there isn’t much research on the specific type of 5 failure mode. Factors associated with
loads are normally independent on the type of material involved, but can be influenced by the
type of construction.
The characteristic strength and load are obtained from codes of practice
Design code is a document that sets rules for design of new development. It is a tool that can
be used in the design and planning process, but goes further and more regulatory than other
forms of guidance commonly used. It is a mechanism which operationalize design guidelines
or standards which have been established through master plan process. It ensures that
aspirations for quality and quantity for development, particularly for large projects, are
realized in the final schemes. That is, it has a potential to deliver the consistency of quality.
Design stress  Design strength

Grade stresses and moduli of elasticity for cypress and pine graded to KS 02 771 are given
below (N/mm 2)
The strength of timber is a function of several parameters including;

• Moisture content
• Density
• Duration of applied load
• Size of members
• Presence of various strength reducing characteristics e.g., slope of grain, knots,
fissures and wane.

The guidance on the use of timber in building and civil engineering structures in BS 5268;
structural use of timber, divided into 7 parts.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY.

The design of timber on BS 5268 part 2 is based on permissible stress design; in which
stresses are derived on a statistical basis and deformation are also limited.

Permissible stresses are calculated by multiplying the “grade stresses” given by the
appropriate modification factors; K-factors, to allow for the effects of parameters such as
moisture content, load duration, load sharing, section sizes etc.

Applied stresses which are derived from the service loads should be less than or equal to the
permissible stresses.

A summary of the K-factors used for calculations of permissible stresses are given in the
table below.

K-factor Description.
K2 Timber grade stresses and moduli for service class 3.
K3 Load duration
K4 Bearing stresses
K5 Shear at notched end
K6 Form factor; bending stresses for non-rectangular sections.
K7 Depth factor; bending stress for beams other than 300 mm depth
 K8 Load sharing system
K9 To modify Emin for deflection in framer beams and lintels.
K12 Slenderness in compression members
K14 Width factor for tension members

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

a) Loading

For design purpose, loading should be in accordance with BS 6399:parts 1,2,3 and CP 3,
Chapter V: Part 2.

b) Service classes

Due to the effects of moisture content on mechanical properties of timber, the permissible
property values should be those corresponding to one of the 3 described and summarized as

i. Service class 1; refers to the timber used internally in a continuously heated building.
The average moisture content likely to be attained in service conditions is 12%
ii. Service class 2; refers to the timber used in a covered building. The average moisture
content likely to be attained is 15% heated and 18% unheated.
iii. Service class 3; refers to the timber used externally and fully exposed. The average
moisture content is likely to be attained is 20%.
For the service class 3 condition they should be multiplied by the modification factor K2 as
shown below.

Property Value of K2
Bending parallel to grain. 0.8
Tension parallel to grain. 0.8
Compression parallel to grain 0.6
Compression perpendicular to grain 0.6
Shear parallel to grain 0.9
Mean and minimum modulus of elasticity 0.8
c) Moisture content

As moisture content affects the structural properties of timber significantly BS 5268 part 2,
recommends that in order to reduce movement and creep under the load the moisture
content of timber and wood-based panels when installed should be close to that likely to be
attained in service.
 d) Duration of loading, K3

Duration of load affects timber strength and therefore the permissible stresses. Because timber
and wood-based material can sustain a much greater load for a short period (a few minutes)
than for a longer period (several years) the grade stresses and joint loads may increased for
other conditions of loading by modification factors given below, K3, by which all grade
stresses (Excluding moduli of elasticity and shear moduli) should be multiplied for various
durations of loading.

Duration of loading Value of K3

Long-term (Dead + permanent imposed) 1.00
Medium-term (dead+ temporary imposed + snow) 1.25
Short term (Dead + Imposed+ wind) 1.50
Very short term (Dead + imposed + wind) 1.75
e) Length and position of bearing

BS 5268: Part 2, Recommends that the grade stresses for compression perpendicular to the
grain apply to bearings of any length at the ends of a member and bearings 150mm or more
in length at any position.

For bearing less than 150mm long located 75mm or more from the end of a member, the
grade stress should be multiplied by the modification factor K4.
Modification factor K4, for bearing stress.

Length of bearing (mm) K4

10 1.74
15 1.67
25 1.53
40 1.33
50 1.20
75 1.14
100 1.10
150 or more 1.00

f) Notched end, K5

Notches at the end of flexural member generally result to high shear concentration which
may cause structural failure and therefore must be taken into account during design. In a
notched member, the grade shear parallel to the grain are multiplied by a modification
factor K5 as shown.

i. For a notch on top edge.

ℎ(ℎ𝑒−𝑎)+𝑎ℎ𝑒
𝐾5 = for a≤he
ℎ𝑒2

K5=1.0 for a>he

ii. For a notch on the downside.

ℎ𝑒
K5 = ℎ
NB; BS 5268 notes that the effective depth, he should not be less than 0.5h

g) Form factor, k6

Grade bending stress value given in the code apply to solid timber members of rectangular
cross-section. For shapes other than rectangular the grade bending stress value should be
multiplied by the modification factor K6 where

K6= 1.18 for circular sections.

K6= 1.41 for solid square section loaded diagonally.

 h) Depth factor, k7

The grade bending stresses in BS 5268, is only applicable to the timber section having a
depth of h=300 mm. For other depths of beams, the grade bending stresses are multiplied by
a modification factor, K7, defined as

i) Load sharing systems, K8

The grade stresses given in the code apply for individual members e.g. isolated beams,
columns

In load sharing system such as rafters, joists, trusses or wall studs spaced at maximum of
610mm centre to centre, and which has adequate provision for the lateral distribution of
loads by means of purlins, binders, boardings, battens etc., the appropriate grade stresses
can be multiplied by the load sharing modification factor K8, which has a value of 1.1.

BS 5268 part 2, recommends that the mean modulus of elasticity should be used to calculate
deflections and displacements induced by static loading conditions. Therefore, in load
sharing system;
Modification factor K8=1.1

Modulus of elasticity E=Emean

j) K9 used to modify the minimum modulus of elasticity for trimmer joists and lintels.

k) Compression members, K12

The grade compression stresses parallel to the grain given in the code are used to design struts,
these values apply to compression members with slenderness ratio less than 5, when the
slenderness ratio is more than 5, the grade stresses must be modified by K12.

K12 takes into account the tendency of a member failing by buckling and also allows for
imperfection such as out of straight and accidental load eccentricity K12 is based on the
minimum modulus of elasticity, irrespective of whether the member acts alone or forms a part
of load sharing systems.
K13 for an effective length of spaced columns.