1.

Describe how you obtain grade stress of a particular timber species

The strength properties of timber may be obtained either by tests on small clear specimens or
by tests on structural size specimens. In the first method, the properties obtained have to be
modified to account for growth related defects which are unlikely to be present in small size
specimens.

Whatever the method used, the variability of the timber with in species has to be accounted
for. This is done by plotting the histogram of timber property for test results and obtaining
characteristic stress value. Characteristic stress means the value below which not more than a
certain percentage of a test result lies for timber, this percentage is 5%.

In case of small clear timbers, the basic stress is then obtained. This is the stress which can
permanently be sustained by a structural component of a particular species subjected by a
structural to particular force; the component being assumed to be consist of clear timber
.Since the strength of timber is affected by factors such as shape, size, the duration of loading,
the characteristic stress obtained is divided by a factor of safety to obtained basic stress.The
grade stress is obtained by multiplying the basic stress by a strength ratio which depends on
grade of timber and property under consideration. The strength ratio accounts for growth
characteristic and assumed to be independent of species.

Characteristic strength has to be modified to obtain grade stresses .It is however unnecessary
to multiply this stress by strength ratio since the specimen tested are in-grade specimens and
the effect of growth characteristic are reflected in the stress obtained

This form of grading is important for structural work as it gives the capacity of a piece of
timber to support a load. The designer of a structure may specify a particular stress grade for
load bearing timbers. Grades range from F2 to F34, which closely correspond to a force in
MPa.

Stress grades are either stamped on the timber or indicated by a colour.

Stress grade
Colour code
(Increasing Strength)
F4 Red
F5 Black
F7 Blue
F8 Green
F11 Purple
F15 Orange
F17 Yellow
F22 White

As an example of the ability of particular species to carry loads Radiata Pine is commonly
graded F4 or F5, Oregon F5 to F8, and Hardwood (Eucalyptus species) F11 to F34.
The Plantation Pine industry has introduced a new machine graded range of framing timber
different to the F-system described above. These pine products are called MGP Pine. The F-
system and the MGP Pine stress grading systems cant be compared directly because they are
based on different strength properties. However, that is a rough comparison:

F4 is similar but not equal to MGP10

F8 is similar but not equal to MGP12
F11 is similar but not equal to MGP15

The designer of a timber structure will determine what grade stress is required by consulting
span tables and selecting a timber size and grade for the load it is required to support.

2. Why modification factors are used in timber design

The inherently variable nature of timber and its effects on structural material properties such
as stress strain characteristics, elasticity and creep has resulted in more than eighty different
modification factors which are used in converting grade stresses to permissible stresses for
design purposes. Some of modification factors are common for design of different type of
numbers exposure condition.

Applied stress < permissible stress

Permissible stress = Grade stress X modification factors (K.)

Modification factors K1, K2 refers to the service exposure condition. Since moisture content
affects strength properties as well as dimensional properties, the property used should
correspond to service condition or the environment in the which timber is used.

The code specifies two exposure conditions

1. Dry exposure condition

2. Wet exposure condition

Modification factors K1 ,by which geometrical properties of timber for dry expose condition
should be multiplied to obtain the value of wet exposed condition.

Modification factor, K2, by which stresses and module for service classes 1 and 2 should be
multiplied to obtain stresses and module applicable to service class 3.The properties provided
in BS 5368:2007 for the different timbers are generally applicable to Service class 1 & 2.
Please refer to notes on service class Service Class
 Property Value of K2

Bending parallel to grain 0,8

Tension parallel to grain 0,8

Compression paralle to grain 0,6

Compression parallel to grain 0,6

Shear parallel to grain 0,9

Mean & Min Modulus of Elasticiy 0,8

Duration of loading

The stress given in the code id far long duration.For other durations the stresses are
multiplied by the modification factor K3.Moduls arent multiplied by K3

Duration of Load Value of K3

Long Term (e.g.permanently imposed ) 1,00
Medium term (e.g. dead + temporary
1,25
imposed
Short Term (e.g. dead + imposed + wind 1,5
Very short term (e.g. dead + wind 1,75

K4- The grade stresses for compression perpendicular to the grain apply to bearings of any
length at the ends of a member, and bearings 150 mm or more in length at any position.
However for bearings less than 150 mm long located 75 mm or more from the end of a
member, as shown in figure belwo thee grade stress should be multiplied by the modification
factor, K4

length of
Value of K4
Bearing
10 1,74
15 1,67
25 1,53
40 1,33
50 1,20
75 1,14
100 1,10
150+ 1,00
K5-This factor is applied for members taking load at notched ends

K6-Grade bending stresses primarily apply to solid timber members of rectangular cross-
section. For other shapes of cross-section the grade bending stresses should be multiplied
by the modification factor, K6, where

K6 = 1.18 for solid circular

sections;
K6 = 1.41 for solid square
sections loaded on a
diagonal.

K7-The grade bending stresses provided in the tables is generally based on sections 300mm
deep a constant (K7)is used when other thicknesses are used.

K8-In construction applications where four or more members are sharing the imposed load
e.g. rafters , joists, trusses etc. with suitable provisions for distributing the load e.g. boarding,
battens etc the admissible stresses and the modulus should be obtained using the following
rules .

The appropriate grade stresses should be multiplied by the load

sharing modification factor, K8 = 1.1.
The mean modulus of elasticity should be used to calculate
deflections and displacements under both dead and imposed load.
However if the loading results from mechanical plant and
equipment, for storage, or for floors subject to vibrations, then the
minimum modulus of elasticity should be used.

K9-The members which are sharing the load, as described above, the minimum modulus of
elasticity hould be modified by the factor, K9, when calculating the deflection deflections

Value of K9
No Pieces
Softwoods Hardwoods
1 1,00 1,00
2 1,14 1,06
3 1,21 1,08
4 or more 1,24 1,10
K14-The grade compressive stress listed in the tables are based on a width of 300mm. For
timber members of other sizes a factor K14 should be used.

K14 = 1,17 for solid timber with a width less than 72mm

K14 = (300 h.)0,11 for solid members having a width h greater than 72mm

K15,K16,K17,K18,K19-Modifcation factors for horizontally glued single grade laminates

Shear
Bending Tension Compression Compression Modulus
parallel
Strength Number of Parallel parallel parallel to normal to of
to
Class Laminations to Grain to grain grain grain
grain>
Elasticity

K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20

C27,C30,C35,
C40 4 or More 1,1 1,1 1,04 1,49 1,49 1,00
D50,D60,D70
4 1,26 1,26
C16,C18,C22, 5 1,34 1,34
C24 1,04 1,55 2,34 1,07
D30,D35,D40 7 1,39 1,39
10 or more 1,42 1,42