II nd ASSIGNEMENT

STRENGTH CLASSES
Evaluate the strength and classes of the following wood beams subjected to uniform and distributed loads or concentrated load according to the figures below : a).

b).

c).

d).

Timber Structures

Pag. 1

The following data are known : cross sectional sizes : b = 10+0.2N [cm] h = 12+0.2N [cm] L = 200+5N [cm] (spam)

design coefficients :

mui = 0.67 mdi = 0.65 Kmod : modification factor equal to 0.4355 M : partial safety coefficient equal to 1.3 loads :

q = 2+0.1N [KN/m] p = 0.8+0.2N [KN] service class : I

Where N is the personal number equal to 24.

DATA

cross sectional sizes b [cm] h [cm] L [cm] design coefficients mui mdi Kmod M loads q [KN/m] p [KN] service class I Timber Structures Pag. 2 4,4 5,6 0,67 0,65 0,4355 1,3 14,8 16,8 320

THE STRENGTH CLASSES

The strength class system aims ate reducing the number of species and grade choices in order to simplify timber specification for the designer of timber structures and reduce restrictions on the supplier of structural timber, for example, reduce his need to stock a large range of species. This strength class system comprises a limited number of classes each with its own set of strength properties, to which species/grade combinations of similar strength are allocated. This makes the entire process of timber specification much more simple. The strength class system established in EN 338, Structural Timber Strength classes is shown in the following table and it consists of 9 classes of softwoods (pines, firs, spruces) and 6 classes for hardwood (oaks, maples, beeches). It ranges from the weakest grade od softwood , C14 , to the highest grade of hardwood, D70, currently used in Europe.

Figure 1. Strength classes and characteristic values according to EN 338 for coniferous species and poplar

Figure 2. Strength classes and characteristic values according to EN 338 for hardwood species

Timber Structures

Pag. 3

The mechanical properties are influenced by moisture content below the fibre-saturation point, with higher properties at the lower moisture content. In timber design the influence of moisture is taken into consideration by assigning timber structures to service classes.
SERVICE CLASSES MOISTURE CONTENT

I II III

12% 12% M.C. 20% 20%

The European Code EC5 and the Romanian code NP005-96 define this modification factor mui (subscript i defines the load type). Apart from the moisture content, the duration of the load significantly influences the strength and deformations of timber and timber structures. As load duration increases, the strength of timber decreases. In the design process this load duration effect on the wood properties is taken into consideration as a factor , mdi , called working condition coefficient. It is defined according to the duration of load and the wood species. The design value Xd of a material property with the characteristic value Xk , is defined as :

where : - M is the partial safety coefficient for the property of the material; - Kmod is the modification factor taking into account the effect on the strength parameters of the duration of the actions and the moisture content

-Xk is the characteristic value of the material property determined by tests (visual grading or machine grading).

Timber Structures

Pag. 4

CASE a) : Bending moment diagram

Shear force diagram

Timber Structures

Pag. 5

According to the table shown before the strength class of this beam is the C27.

CASE b). Bending moment diagram

Shear force diagram

Timber Structures

Pag. 6

According to the table shown before the strength class of this beam is the C14

CASE c). Bending moment diagram

Shear force diagram

Timber Structures

Pag. 7

According to the table shown before the strength class of this beam is the C22

CASE d). Bending moment diagram

Timber Structures

Pag. 8

Shear force diagram

According to the table shown before the strength class of this beam is the C27

Timber Structures

Pag. 9

Timber Structures

Pag. 10