SECTION 615

STRESSES
615.1 General
Except as herein provided, stresses shall not exceed the
allowable unit stresses for the respective species and grades
or fabricated products as set forth in Table 6.1 and Table
6.15 for lumber. Values therein indicated are reference
design values. All the tabulated design values (except the
average modulus of elasticity E) include reductions for
safety and are primarily intended for direct application in
ASD.
Reference design values are given the symbol of uppercase
F, and a subscript --- t for tension, c for compression, b for
bending --- is added to indicate the type of stress.
Reference design values for wood represent a starting point
in the determination of the allowable stress for a particular
design. Adjusted ASD design values are determined by
multiplying the reference values by the appropriate
adjustement factors. A prime is added to the symbol of the
reference value to indicate that the necessary adjustments
have been applied to obtain the adjusted design value:
Ft’ = Ft x (product of adjustment factors)
For a design to be acceptable, the actual stress, i.e. ft must
be less than or equal to the adjusted design value Ft’:
ft < Ft’
615.1.1 Repetitive Member System
A repetitive member system is defined as one that has (1)
three (3) or more parallel members of Dimension lumber or
structural composite lumber; (2) Members spaced not more
than 600mm; (3) Members connected together by a loaddistributing
element such as roof, floor, or wall sheathing.
For a repetitive member system, the reference Fb may be
multiplied by a repetitive member factor, Cr = 1.15. For all
other framing systems, Cr = 1.0.
Values for species and grades not tabulated shall be
approved by the building official.
615.2 Stresses in Piles Used as Structural Members
Induced stresses for normal loading of round poles or piles
when used as a structural member, except modulus of
elasticity which shall be the same as for sawn lumber, shall
not exceed 60 percent of the basic unit working stresses for
the species as forth in Table 6.1
CHAPTER 6 - Wood 6-19
National Structural Code of the Philippines Volume 1, 6th Edition
615.3 Adjustment of Stresses
The allowable unit stresses specified in this chapter shall be
subject to applicable adjustments.
615.3.1 General.
The adjustments shall be as set forth in the footnotes to the
appropriate stress tables and to the requirements of this
section:
CD = load duration factor
CM = wet service factor
CF = size factor
Cf = form factor
Cfu = flat use factor
Cg = support factor
Ci = incising factor
Ct = temperature factor
Cr = repetitive member factor
CP = column stability factor
CL = beam stability factor
CS = slenderness factor
CV = coefficient of variation
CV = volume factor
These adjustment factors do not apply to all reference
design values.
615.3.2 Preservative Treatment.
The values for wood pressure impregnated with an
approved process and preservative need no adjustment for
treatment but are subjected to other adjustments.
615.3.3 Fire-Retardant Treatment
The values for lumber and plywood pressure impregnated
with approved fire-retardant chemicals, including fastener
values, shall be recommended by the treater and submitted
to the building official for approval. Submittal to the
building official shall include all substantiating data. Such
values shall be developed from approved test methods and
procedures that consider potential strength-reduction
characteristics, including effects of elevated temperatures
and moisture.
Other adjustments are applicable, except that the impact
load-duration factor shall not apply.
615.3.4 Duration of Load
Values for wood and mechanical fastenings (when the
wood determines the load capacity) are subjected
adjustments based on the following variations in the
duration of load:
1. Where a member is fully stressed to the maximum
allowable stress, either continuously or cumulatively,
for more than 10 years under the conditions of
maximum design load, the values shall not exceed 90
percent of those in the tables.
2. When the accumulated duration of the full maximum
load during the life of the member does not exceed the
period indicated below, the values may be increased in
the table as follows:
Increase Period CD
25.0 %
for seven days duration, as for roof
loads
1.25
33.3 % for earthquake 1.33
33.3 %
for wind (for connections and
fasteners)
1.33
60.0 % for wind (members only) 1.60
100.0 % for impact 2.0
The foregoing examples are not cumulative. For combined
duration of loadings the resultant structural members shall
not be smaller than the required for the longer duration of
loading.
The duration of load factors in this item shall not apply to
compression-perpendicular-to-grain design values based on
a deformation limit, or to modulus of elasticity.
3. Values for normal loading conditions may be used
without regard to impact if the stress induced by impact
does not exceed the values for normal loading.
615.3.5 Size Factor Adjustment
When the depth of a rectangular sawn lumber bending
member 125 mm or thicker exceeds 300 mm, the bending
values, Fb, shall be multiplied by the size factor, CF, as
determined by the Equation (615-1):
1/ 9 300 




d
CF (615-1)
where:
CF = size factor
d = depth of beam in mm
For beams of circular cross section that have a diameter
greater than 340 mm, or 300 mm or larger square beams
loaded in the plane of the diagonal, the size factor CF may
be determined on the basis of an equivalent conventionally
loaded square beam of the same cross-sectional area.
Size factor adjustments are cumulative with form factor
adjustments specified in Section 615.3.7, except for lumber
I beam and box beams, but are not cumulative with
slenderness factor adjustments specified in Section 615.3.6.
6-20 CHAPTER 6 - Wood
Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines
The size factor adjustment shall not apply to visually
graded lumber 50 mm to 100 mm thick or to machinestress-
rated lumber.
615.3.6 Slenderness Factor and Flexural Stress.
When the depth of a bending member exceeds its breadth,
lateral support may be required and the slenderness factor
Cs shall be calculated by the following Equation:
b2
ld
Ce
S  (615-2)
where:
Cs = slenderness factor
le = effective length of beam, mm from the following
table
d = depth of beam, mm
b = breadth of beam, mm
The effective lengths, le in the table are based on an lu/d
ratio of 17. For other ℓu/d ratios, these effective lengths may
be multiplied by a factor equal to 0.85+2.55/(lu/d) except
that this factor shall not apply to a single-span beam with
equal end moments (le =1.84lu) or to a single span or
cantilever beam with any load (le =1.92lu).
When the slenderness factor Cs does not exceed 10, the full
allowable unit stress in bending Fb may be used.
Effective Length of Beams
Type of Beam Span and Nature of
Load
Value of Effective
Length, le
Single-span beam, load concentrated
at the center.------------------------------
Single-span beam, uniformly
distributed load.--------------------------
Single-span beam, equal end
moments.----------------------------------
Cantilever beam, load concentrated
at unsupported end.----------------------
Cantilever beam, uniformly
distributed load.--------------------------
Cantilever beam, uniformly
distributed load with concentrated
load at cantilever end.-------------------
Single-span or cantilever beam, any
other load.--------------------------------
1.61lu
1.92lu
1.84lu
1.69lu
1.06lu
1.69lu
1.92lu
lu = unsupported length of beam, mm
When the slenderness factor Cs is greater than 10 but does
not exceed Ck , the allowable unit stress in bending F’b shall
be determined from the following equation:






  
 


4
3
'11
k
S
bbC
C
FF
(615-3)
where:
Ck = 0.811 E / Fb (615-14)
E = modulus of elasticity
Fb = allowable unit stress for extreme fiber in
bending
F’b = allowable unit stress for extreme fiber in
bending, adjusted for slenderness.
When the slenderness factor Cs is greater than Ck but less
than 50, the allowable unit stress in bending F’b shall be
determined by the following Equation:
2
' 0.438
S
bC
F  E (615-15)
In no case shall Cs exceed 50.
The design values for extreme fiber in bending, Fb, and
modulus elasticity, E, used in the formulas for F’b shall be
CHAPTER 6 - Wood 6-21
National Structural Code of the Philippines Volume 1, 6th Edition
modified to account for moisture service condition, duration
of loading, temperature and type of treatment in accordance
with the Section 615.3 except that the modification for size
factor shown in Section 615.3.5 shall not be used. Design
values for extreme fiber in bending adjusted for slenderness
factor, F’b, are not subject to further modifications for
moisture service condition, duration of loading,
temperature, type of treatment or size.
The design value for extreme fiber in bending, F’b, shall not
exceed the full design value for extreme fiber in bending,
Fb, modified as allowed in this section, including the size
factor adjustment.
When the compression edge of a beam is supported
throughout its length to prevent its lateral displacement, and
the ends at points of bearing have lateral support to prevent
rotation, the unsupported length lu may be taken as zero.
When lateral support is provided to prevent rotation at the
points of end bearing but no other lateral support is
provided throughout the length of the beam, the
unsupported lu is the distance between such points of end
bearing, or the length of the cantilever.
When a beam is provided with a lateral support to prevent
rotational and lateral displacement at intermediate points as
well as the ends, unsupported length lu is the distance
between such points of intermediate lateral support.
615.3.7 Form Factor Adjustments
The allowable unit stress in bending for non-prismatic
members shall not exceed the value established by
multiplying such stress by the form factor Cf determined as
follows:
Beam Section Form Factor (Cf)
Circular 1.180
Square (with diagonal vertical) 1.414
Lumber I Beams and Box Beam























gC
d
d
1
88
25.4
143
0.81 1 25.4 2
2
(615-6)
where:
Cf = form factor (615-7)
Cg = support factor = p2 (6 – 8p + 3p2) (1 – q) + q
p = ratio of depth of compression flange to full depth
of beam
q = ratio of thickness of web or webs to the full width
of beam
The form factor adjustment shall be cumulative with the
size factor adjustment, except for lumber I beams and box
beams.
615.3.8 Modulus of Elasticity Adjustment
The use of average modulus of elasticity E values is
appropriate for the design of normal wood structural
members and assemblies. In special applications where
deflections are critical to the stability of structures or
structural components, and where exposed to varying
temperature and relative humidity under sustained loading
conditions, the average values of the modulus of elasticity E
listed in Table 6.1 shall be reduced to account for
variability. Coefficients of variation CV in the modulus of
elasticity E for lumber as follows:
CV
Visually graded sawn lumber 0.25
Machine stress-rated sawn lumber 0.11
The average modulus of elasticity E values listed in the
table shall be multiplied by 1-CV , or 1-1.65CV to obtain a
modulus of elasticity E value exceeded by 84 percent or 95
percent individual pieces, respectively.
The duration-of-load adjustments specified in Section
615.3.4 do not apply to modulus of elasticity values.
615.3.9 Temperature
The allowable unit stress for untreated and preservativetreated
wood specified in this chapter and as modified in
this section applies to uses within the range of climatic
temperature ordinarily encountered in buildings. Wood
members shall not be used in areas subject to temperatures
above 66C unless the exposure is infrequent and any
permanent loss in strength is accounted for in the design.
The allowable unit stress for fire-retardant-treated solidsawn
lumber and plywood, including fasteners values,
subject to prolonged elevated temperatures from
manufacturing or equipment processes, but not exceeding
66C , shall be developed from approved test methods that
properly consider potential strength-reduction
characteristics, including effects of heat and moisture.
615.3.10 Moisture Service Condition
Where sawn lumber and fastenings are exposed to service
conditions causing the wood to possess more than 19
percent moisture content, the tabulated design values shall
be reduced as specified in Table 6.16