🎓 Lecture: Lumber Design in Structural Engineering
1. Introduction
Lumber design (or timber design) is a branch of structural engineering that deals with the
analysis and design of wood or timber members used in construction.
It ensures that wood structures such as beams, columns, trusses, floors, and roofs are safe,
serviceable, and economical under different loads.
Wood is one of the oldest and most versatile building materials — renewable, lightweight, and
easy to work with — making it popular for residential, low-rise, and light-frame construction.
2. Types of Lumber
A. According to Manufacturing
1. Rough Lumber – cut directly from logs; surfaces are not smoothed.
2. Dressed Lumber – surfaced or planed on one or more sides for smoothness and uniform
size.
B. According to Use
1. Structural Lumber – used for load-bearing elements (beams, joists, studs).
2. Non-structural Lumber – for finishes, trims, or furniture.
C. According to Size
Type Nominal Size Example Use
Boards < 2" thick Sheathing, paneling
Dimension Lumber 2"–4" thick Joists, studs, rafters
Timbers ≥ 5" thick Posts, beams, girders
3. Basic Design Principles
The goal of lumber design is to ensure the wood member can safely resist applied loads
(bending, compression, tension, shear) without failure or excessive deflection.
Design is based on the formula:
Design Strength ≥ Required Strength (Demand)
In other words:
F actual ≤ F allowable
Where:
F actual= Actual stress in the member
F allowable= Allowable design stress for the wood species and grade
4. Types of Stresses in Wood Members
1. Bending Stress (Flexural)
o Occurs in beams and joists due to transverse loads.
o Formula:
M
f b=
S
where:
M = Bending moment,
S= Section modulus.
2. Shear Stress
o Due to vertical shear along beam depth.
o Formula:
VQ
f v=
Ib
3. Axial Compression
o In columns and posts.
o Must check for buckling.
o Euler’s formula or empirical column design is used.
4. Axial Tension
o Occurs in ties or truss members.
o Formula:
P
f t=
A
5. Deflection
o Beam deflection should be limited for serviceability.
L L
o Common limit: to .
240 360
5. Factors Affecting Lumber Strength
1. Species and Grade – Each wood species (e.g., Douglas Fir, Southern Pine) has different
allowable stresses.
2. Moisture Content – Wet wood is weaker; design is adjusted for moisture conditions.
3. Load Duration – Wood can carry higher short-term loads (e.g., wind, earthquake).
4. Size Effect – Larger sections are less efficient due to internal flaws.
5. Temperature and Service Conditions – Heat and humidity may reduce capacity.
6. Design Values (Typical Allowable Stresses)
Property Symbol Typical Range (MPa)
Bending Strength Fb 7 – 20
Shear Strength Fv 1–2
Compression Parallel to Grain Fc 10 – 25
Tension Parallel to Grain Ft 7 – 15
Modulus of Elasticity E 8,000 – 15,000
(Values vary by species and grade; refer to NDS or local codes.)
7. Design of Common Wood Members
A. Beam Design
1. Compute maximum bending moment M max .
2. Determine required section modulus:
M max
Sreq =
Fb
3. Select lumber section with Sactual ≥ S req .
4. Check shear and deflection.
B. Column Design
1. Compute axial load P.
2. Check compression stress:
P '
f c= ≤ Fc
A
3. Adjust allowable stress for buckling using column stability factor C P.
C. Combined Bending and Axial
Members under both bending and compression/tension must satisfy:
fb fc
'
+ '
≤ 1.0
F b Fc
8. Design Codes and Standards
NDS (National Design Specification for Wood Construction – AWC)
NSCP (National Structural Code of the Philippines)
ASTM D245 – Establishing structural grades for lumber
AS/NZS 1720 – Timber structures design (Australia/New Zealand)
9. Advantages of Lumber in Design
✅ Renewable and sustainable
✅ Lightweight but strong
✅ Easy to fabricate and modify
✅ Aesthetic and insulating properties
10. Limitations
⚠️Susceptible to moisture, decay, and termites
⚠️Variable material properties
⚠️Fire hazard
⚠️Limited use for very long spans or heavy loads
11. Modern Applications
Roof trusses and floor joists
Timber frames and posts
Formworks and scaffolds
Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and Glulam beams for larger spans
12. Example (Simple Beam Design)
Given:
A simply supported beam, span = 4 m, uniform load = 3 kN/m, lumber F b=10 MPa.
2
w L2 3( 4 )
1. M max = = =6 kN\cdotpm=6 ×106 N\cdotpmm
8 8
6
M 6 ×10 3
2. Sreq = = =600,000 mm
Fb 10
3. Choose section with S ≥ 600,000 mm 3.
Example: 50 mm × 150 mm (S = 562,500 mm³) → slightly undersized; use 50×175 mm or
larger.
13. Summary
Concept Description
Goal Ensure wood members safely carry loads
Design Check Bending, shear, compression, deflection
Concept Description
Basis Allowable stress design (ASD)
Main Code NSCP / NDS
Key Factors Species, moisture, size, load duration
14. Conclusion
Lumber design combines engineering analysis with material behavior to achieve safe, efficient,
and sustainable wood structures. A good designer must understand both the mechanics of
materials and the practical nature of wood—its imperfections, variations, and environmental
sensitivity—to ensure structural integrity throughout the building’s life.
