Gateway College of Architecture and Design

Lesson Plan 3

Structure II
Timber as a structural material

Jan 2019 Asst Prof.- Dinesh Kaushik 1

Content
• Introduction
• Structure of a tree
• Cross-section of a tree
• Seasoning of timber
• Moisture in timber
• Classification of timber
• Strength characteristics of the timber
• Defects in timber
• Table for permissible stress
• Some timber structures
• Home work
Instructional objectives
At the end of this lecture, students should be able to-
• Explain timber
• Explain structure of tree
• Understand and explain seasoning of timber
• Explain the effect of moisture content in timber
• Classify timber
• Identify various defects and their influence on the
strength of timber
Introduction
• Wood is considered as one of the best engineering material.
• Despite the extensive use of other structural material like
steel and concrete, many engineering concerns like
buildings, Railways, mining etc. depend much upon wood.
• The wood which is suitable or fit for engineering
construction or engineering purpose is called timber.
• Unlike steel and concrete, timber is not made of consistent
structural properties. It does not behave equally in all
directions.
• The sawed wood meant for construction in the form of
boards is called lumber.
Structure of a tree
Cross-section of a Tree
Seasoning of Timber
• As fresh timber which is obtained from trees
contains about 30 to 40 % sap or moisture.
• This sap is very harmful for the life of a timber.
Therefore, it is necessary to remove that sap by
applying some special methods.
• All those methods which are used for removing the
sap from timber are collectively termed as
seasoning of timber.
Seasoning of Timber
Objectives of Seasoning
• To reduce movement of timber, to reduce the tendency
to split.
• To make it immune from attack by insects.
• To increase strength, durability, workability and
resilience.
• To make the timber receptive to finish like
preservatives, paints, and varnish.
• To reduce weight and minimize cost of transportation.
• To make the timber burn readily, if used as a fuel.
Moisture in Wood Cells
100% Growing
tree

Unseasoned
timber
free water

25% bound water

Partially
seasoned fibre saturation
timber
removed
bound
Seasoned water
15%
timber
 Moisture in timber
Moisture content (mc) = weight water
weight wood
• in growing tree - mc = 50% to 100%
• felled tree - mc begins to decrease

Fibre saturation point (fsp) (~25%)

• above fsp - moisture in cell cavities lost  little change in
dimension
• below fsp - moisture in cell wall lost  shrinkage perpendicular
to grain
 Shrinkage Radial
shrinkage Tangential
shrinkage
Loss
Lossofofmoisture
moistureininrange
rangemc
mc<25%
<25%

Reduction
Reductioninincell
cellwall
wallthickness
thickness
Longitudinal
shrinkage
Reduction
Reductioninin
cross-sectional
cross-sectionaldimensions
dimensions

Shrinkage from 25% to 12%

Classification of Timber
Timber can be classified based on-
• Mode of growth
• Modulus of elasticity and extreme fibre bending
stress
• Seasoning characteristics
Classification of Timber
Based on mode of growth
a) Exogenous – These trees grow outward.
Conifers Trees
Deciduous Trees
b) Endogenous – These trees grow inwards.
Classification of Timber
Based on Modulus of elasticity (E) and extreme fibre
stress (fb)-
1. Group A- ‘E’ > 12600 N/mm2 and ‘fb’ above 18
N/mm2
2. Group B- ‘E’ > 9800 N/mm2 and ‘fb’ above 12
N/mm2 and upto 18 N/mm2
3. Group C- ‘E’ > 5600 N/mm2 and ‘fb’ above 8.5
N/mm2 and upto 12 N/mm2
Classification of Timber
Based on seasoning characteristics-
• Class A (Highly refractory woods) – These timbers are
slow and difficult to dry if the final product is to be
free from defects, particularly cracks and splits.
• Class B (Moderately refractory woods) – These
timbers show a moderate tendency to crack and split
during seasoning.
• Class C (Non-refractory woods) – These timbers can
be rapidly seasoned to be free from defects even by
applying high temperatures in industrial kilns.
 Defects in timber and their
influence on the strength of timber
• Shakes- The partial or complete separation between adjoining layers
of tissues are called shake. They lower the resistance to shear.
• Rind gall- The curved swelling resulted from the growth of sapwood
layer on wound, left by a falling branch or cut off branch in an
irregular manner is called rind gall. The new growth does not unite
properly with the old wood and leaves the cavity where decaying
action may set in.
 Defects in timber and their
influence on the strength of timber
• Knots- The dark hard pieces indicating places from where branches
have been cut off or broken are called knots.
knots are the source of weakness as they break the continuity of
wood fibres. Further, knot tend to weaken the timber in tension
but may improve its strength in compression. Generally knots
make the working of wood difficult.
 Defects in timber and their
influence on the strength of timber
• Twisted fibres- The defect due to the fibre of tree which get
twisted when young in age, by force of wind is called twisted
fibres. Twisted fibre make the wood weak which cannot be used
for structural purposes.
• Upsets- The defect caused by crushing or by injury in wood fibres
is known as upsets. It occurs usually during the growth. This
makes wood weak and unfit for any important work.
Table of safe permissible stress in
timber
Some timber structures
Borgund church, Norway, twelfth century
Three storey pagoda, Yakusiji Toto, built 730 (Yasemura, 2000).
(Reproduced by permission of M. Yasemura)
Chapel bridge in Luzern, Switzerland originally built in1333, restored
after fire damage 1993 (Photo: Sven Thelandersson)
Arch roof for Stockholm central railway station, built 1925.
Reproduced by permission of Svenskt Limtr¨a AB
Interior from the Tacoma Dome, Washington, USA with a 162 m
span (Photo: Sven Thelandersson)
The anatomy of a typical timber frame small house
Bridge with laminated timber decking (Reproduced by permission
of Svenskt Tr¨a)
Home work
Try and find out answer of the following questions, same will be
discussed in next lecture-
• Advantages of timber over other materials
• Requirements of a good timber
• Characteristics to find the suitability of timber
• Types of timber seasoning
• Uses of timber
• Mechanical properties of timber
• Defects in timber due to seasoning and manufacturing
• Wood based products
• Also make a small presentation on bamboo as a structural material.