Geoff's Woodwork

for Students of Woodwork

Using timber structurally
calculating strength properties
modulus of elasticity
useful facts and data
weights for common books
Using timber structurally
The table below gives the approximate weight of various sized books per 500 mm run. It does not give the
material or thickness, etc. of the required board. For this, you should calculate using the materials MoE
(modulus of elasticity) and the various bending formulas. You may obtain these and a good working
explanation from Bruce Hoadleys book "Understanding Wood". Another excellent book about shelf loads
and other formula is the "Woodworkers Essential" by Ken Horner. I have included some formula and
calculations collected from various sources over my teaching and learning career. I must confess that I am
not entirely happy using raw data or formula without carrying out a practical test of the likely loads on a
mock up using the proposed material and spans. The formulas do not include a margin for safety and I
would reduce the predicted spans to give a degree of tolerance especially those calculated with fixed ends. A
batten added to the front and the rear of the shelf will provide a greater load potential.
To get an idea of the safe loading you could always preload your shelf with an approximate weight that you
intend to load. Even if it is only the proposed board set out between a couple of supports. Weigh a single
brick (or similar common unit) and then load the board with them until the board starts to dip. If you
multiply the single units weight by the total number of units that it safely took (with a safety allowance) you
will have an idea what weight the given board (material, span, thickness and depth) will take. You may then
modify the span, thickness, etc. accordingly before committing yourself. In my calculations I use a deflection
of an eighth of an inch (about 2.54 mm). This is a tolerable deflection but the amount should be changed to
that required for the job. When designing shelves for bookcases and similar loading start at a finished
thickness of one inch (25mm) anything less calls for quite short spans.
It is surprising how heavy books and other ornaments are. You should err on shorter shelving rather than the
longer variety unless you are confident that the thickness of your chosen board can take it. I note that many
designers and writers are loathe to quote loading tables nowadays. Failure could be expensive. Remember,
if you make someone a piece of furniture and it fails and someone gets injured it is you the designer who is
responsible. As the manufacturer you are responsible for any production errors and failures. Try to obtain
the customers written plans and specifications but use your good judgment before production and if you are
not sure, check.
Please be careful when making bookcases and shelving or anything that may take a lot of weight. If in doubt
ask an expert. Although in my opinion, it is difficult to get one to commit themselves. Remember, make
practical tests before you use such tables and formulaes. They are a good starting guide but not final proof!
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Calculating Strength properties of timber
These formulas do not include a safe operating margin. Users should satisfy themselves that the formula is
correct for their application and carry out physical checks to confirm safety.
Sayfa 1/ 5 weight of books
29.07.2013 http://www.geoffswoodwork.co.uk/book%20weights.htm
1. Uniformly distributed load, with supported ends such as adjustable shelving, etc
s = (5 x F x L ) (384 x E x I)
L = v ((384 x s x E x I) (5 x F))
I = b x h 12
Where:
s = deflection
F = Force in Newtons
L = Span
E = Modulus of Elasticity in N/mm
I = Moment of inertia
b = breadth (depth) in mm
h = height (thickness) in mm
2. Uniformly distributed load, with fixed ends i.e. secured in housings or dado:
s = (F x L ) (384 x E x I)
L = v ((384 x s x E x I) F)
I = (b x h) 12
Note when the ends are securely fixed such as in a glued housings or dado the increase in load capacity. To
obtain the advantage of these spans the ends must be held extremely stiff because any movement will reduce
the load potential. I doubt if the full advantage would be obtained using standard timber shelving and
normal jointing methods. However it is included for comparison purposes and to demonstrate the obvious
advantage of fixing the ends securely as possible.
Summary of methods to increase load capacity:
a. Ends firmly fixed into supports.
b. Wider the board - the amount of load may increase by twice the load by increasing twice the width.
c. Thicker the board - the amount of sag in the board may decreased by a factor of eight by doubling
the thickness.
d. Shorter the span - on the other hand by doubling the supported span the amount of sag increases
by a factor of 8.
By scrutiny of the E values below you will see the stronger timbers to use and the obvious weakness of
using man-made boards such as plywood and MDF despite its wide use in the shelving business.
If a certain span is required that would otherwise would sag due to its thickness the remedy is to provide
dividers to decrease the span or increase the load capability by using a wider board.
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Sayfa 2/ 5 weight of books
29.07.2013 http://www.geoffswoodwork.co.uk/book%20weights.htm
Modulus of Elasticity. E value
Users should obtain their specific data from the manufactures or suppliers specification sheets.
The data supplied below is some that the author has collected from various sources and is quoted only below
to show the range available. No apologies are made for the wide values shown against some timbers. This
information is collated from sources such as technical publications, data sheets from TRADA, and BRE.(see
for web sites) The wider variations are generally for differing characteristics between similar species, their
country of origin and always, the local conditions that the tree grew in. You should obtain E values from
your supplier and when using the boards in a critical situation take physical checks to ensure the material is
up to the stability for the use you are putting it. There are further factors that affect the strength of timber
such as the temperature, the amount of moisture, the grain direction and slope, the physical defects such as
knots, shakes, splits, mature or juvenile wood, etc. All this leads to the absolute need to provide practical
tests before using boards to carry weight.
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Material Density = Kg/m E in N/mm2
Ash European 689 11,900
Balsa 176 3200
Birch European 670 13300
Beech European 673 12600
Cedar UK 417 5400
Cherry USA 580 10,200
Chestnut sweet 560 8,200
Douglas Fir Canada 545 12700
Hemlock Canada 465 10400
Iroko 655 9,400
Larch European 545 9900
Keruing/Luan spp. 641-849 13,700 - 17600
Mahogany var. spp 495-850 7,800 10,600
Meranti/ 481 10500
Oak European 689 10,100
Parano Pine 529 10400
Spruce sitka Canada 384 8100
Sapele 673 11,700
Scots Pine 513 10000
Sycamore European 561 9400
Teak 641 10000
Utile 660 10800
Walnut African 545 9,200
Western Red Cedar 368 7000
Whitewood European 417 10200
MDF HD 17-19 mm 3,450 5,000
MDF Std 18 19 mm 3,000
Chipboard 12 19 mm 1,600 3,400
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Useful facts and data
When gathering data for your calculations you will find the tables will reveal the material you are
looking for but often in the wrong unit. The table below gives some conversion factors that might
be useful to convert the information to the correct format.
Stress (s) s =load/area (MN/m or lb/inch or psi)
Strain (e) e =amount of stretch/original length (no
units)
Youngs modulus (E) E =stress/strain =s/e (N/mn)
Sayfa 3/ 5 weight of books
29.07.2013 http://www.geoffswoodwork.co.uk/book%20weights.htm
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Weight of
books
The average weight of standard books per 500 mm run:
Small paperback 8 X 5 inches 10.29 Kg
Small modern compact paper backs 8 X 6 inches 15.7 Kg
Small hardback older book 9 X 6 inches 11.84 Kg
Medium hardback book 10 X 7 inches 17.4 Kg
Large hardback book 12 X 9 inches 37.2 Kg
I have been asked a number of times the source of the book weights.
The weights are purely average based on Practical Observations.
I took say 4 or 5 books each of the same sizes, weighed them and measured the total thickness of the bundle in mm.
The weight was divided by the total thickness and multiplied by 500.
Therefore the 'weight per 500mm run' is purely as a guide to how heavy books of given sizes represent a shelf
of span 500 mm loaded with books to fill the shelf.
I did this to each size range of book. Now you may well have a heavier paper and book boards so CHECK!
I recommend that you carry out and check the exercise yourself if you are going to do design work.
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text and grafics Geoff Malthouse
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density =Wt Kg / vol cm
mass =volume x density
specific gravity (sg) =Kg/m
1 psi =0.00685 MN/m
=0.07 Kg/cm
1 kg/cm =0.098 MN/m
=14.2 psi
1 MN/m =10.2 Kg/cm =146 psi
KN/mm =1000N/mm
N/mm =1MPa
=1 N/m x 10^6
KN/mm =1GPa
=1 N/m x 10^9
1 Pascal =1 N/m
1Kg force =9.8N
1 m = 1000000 cm
= 1000000000 mm
1 cc ( mass of 1 gram) =1 millilitres or 1ml
=0.001 Litres
=0.000001 m
1 Litre =volume of 1 Kg of pure water @ 40C
=1000 cc =100 cl
=1000 ml
=1000 cm
1 m =1000 Litres
1 grain =1/7000 lb
1 Lb/foot =4.88 Kg/m
1 lb/Cu.Ft =16.0185 Kg/m
1 Lb/Cu.Inch =27679.90 Kg/m
Sayfa 4/ 5 weight of books
29.07.2013 http://www.geoffswoodwork.co.uk/book%20weights.htm
revised and uploaded 3rd March 2010
Sayfa 5/ 5 weight of books
29.07.2013 http://www.geoffswoodwork.co.uk/book%20weights.htm