8.0 Design of Axially Loaded Members

8.
0 DESIGN OF AXIALLY LOADED MEMBERS

 Timber sections are commonly used in construction as axially loaded members or members
in combined axial force and bending.
 Members of a truss, posts or columns, vertical wall studs and bracing elements are typical
example
Design of compression members
Clause 2.11 deals with design of compression members and divides them into two categories:
 members subject to axial compression (without bending), and cl 2.11.5
 members subject to combined axial compression and bending (this may be due to applied
eccentric compressive force) 2.11.6
Design considerations
 The main design considerations for compression members are:
o Slenderness ratio. This relates to positional restraint of ends, lateral restraint along the
length and cross-sectional dimensions of the member.
o Axial compression and bending stresses.
Slenderness ratio 
The load-carrying capacity of compression members is a function of the slenderness ratio, 
Where I s the second moment of area and A is the cross-sectional area of the member.
For rectangular sections, where b is the least lateral dimension (Fig. BELOW), the value of i
simplifies to:
Clause 2.11.4 of BS 5268:Part 2 :2002 recommends that the slenderness ratio should not exceed
a value of:
 = 180, for compression members carrying dead and imposed loads other than loads resulting
from wind,
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 =250, for any members subject to reversal of axial stress solely from the effect of wind and
any compression member carrying self-weight and wind loads only.
The effective length, Le,

Given in (Clause 2.11.3)
Should be derived from either:
a) Table 21 for the particular end conditions; or
b) The deflected form of the compression member as affected by any restraint and/or fixing
moment(s), the effective length being the distance between adjacent points of zero
bending between which the member is in single curvature.
Effective lengths and end condition
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Modification factor for compression members K12
 The modification factor for compression members, KI2, can be determined using either
Table 22 of BS 5268 or calculated from the equation given in Annex B of the code.
 E (i.e. Emin) should be used in all cases including when load sharing is present
 The value of for use in either method, should be the grade compressive stress,
(given in Tables 8-14 of the code) modified only for moisture content, duration of
loading and size where appropriate.
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Member subjected to axial compression only
 Clause 2.11.5
 An axially loaded column has its line of action of load passing through the centroidal axis
of the column, see Fig a. below
The axial compressive stress is given by:
where P is the axial compressive load and A the cross-sectional area.

Permissible compressive stress
Design should ensure that
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Members subject to axial compression and bending
 Clause 2.11.6
 Members which are restrained at both ends in position but not direction, which
covers most real situations, should be so proportioned that:
Design of load-bearing stud wall

Stud walls are often constructed as load-bearing walls in timber framed housing. Details of a
typical stud wall are shown in Fig. below
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Design of tension members
 Clause 2.12
 The design of tension members involves trial and error.
 The capacity of a tension member at its weakest point, for example at connection points,
should be determined. Generally, the cross-sectional dimensions are found first by assuming
a connector arrangement.
 After connectors are designed, the strength of the member is again checked based on its net
cross-sectional area at the point of connection
Design considerations
 The main design considerations for tension members are:
 Tensile stress for members subjected to axial loading only.
 Combined bending and tensile stresses for members subjected to lateral
loading as well as the axial tension.
 BS 5268: Part 2 recommends that in the calculation of the permissible tensile stress value the
effect of the width of the timber section KI4 should be considered
With factor, K
 Clause 2.12.2
 The grade tension stresses given in Tables 8-14 of BS 5268 :Part 2 apply to members having
a width (i.e. The greater transverse dimension), h, of 300mm For other widths of members
assigned to a strength class, the grade tension stresses should be multiplied by the width
modification factor,
K14, where:
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Members subjected to axial tension only
The applied tensile stress in an axially loaded timber member is calculated from the following
equation:
The permissible tensile stress
Members subject to axial tension and bending

Clause 2.12.3
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8.

0 DESIGN OF AXIALLY LOADED MEMBERS

The effective length, Le,

Effective lengths and end condition

The axial compressive stress is given by:

where P is the axial compressive load and A the cross-sectional area.

Design should ensure that

Design of load-bearing stud wall

The permissible tensile stress

Members subject to axial tension and bending

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