Wood - Design

Full code checking can be performed on Dimension Lumber and Post and Timber size wood shapes based on the following codes:

Note: When the 1991 / 1997 NDS is selected, the 1991 NDS specification will be used with the 1997 stress tables. This is consistent with the requirements of the 1997 UBC.

Glu-Lams

Glu-Lams are treated as any other wood species and may be selected from the list of species on the Wood tab of the Materials spreadsheet.

Glulam Material Properties

Available Glulam Materials are per Tables 5A and 5C of the NDS Supplement and Table 6.3 of the CSA O86. When a Glu-Lam is selected, the grade will be listed as "na" or not applicable.  

If you prefer to use a material that is not listed in the design code glulam tables, please enter the material type as a Custom Wood Species.

Note:

Glulam Dimensions

All Glu-Lam members should be dimensioned as "Full Sawn" using the format wXdFS (or wXdMFS for metric sizes), where "w" and "d" are the actual width and depth dimensions.  If the size is entered as wXd without the FS designation, then the size will be assumed to be regular dimensional lumber.

Glulam Redesign Lists/ Optimization

RISA includes two redesign lists for Glu-Lams: Glu-Lam_Western for Western Species and Hardwoods (HW), and Glu-Lam_SouthernPine for Southern Pine (SP/SP).

Glulam Limitations

 Please note that glulam design is not supported for the 91/97 NDS design code.

Custom Wood Materials & Structural Composite Lumber

To use a custom wood material that is not part of the standard NDS or CSA O86 databases, you need to define the custom design properties. This can be done through the Materials spreadsheet, or by clicking the Custom Wood icon on the Advanced ribbon.

Custom Wood Properties

To access the Custom Wood Properties input window:

  1. Go to the Advanced ribbon.
  2. Click the Custom Wood icon.

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    The Custom Wood Species Database window opens.

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    Follow the steps below that apply to what you want to do:

    The following table provides descriptions for each of the Allowable Stress properties.

    Allowable Stress Properties

    Property

    Description

    Bending Stress (Fb)

    Bending Stress (Fb) represents the Bending Stress limit applied to the custom wood.

    Tension Stress (Ft)

    Tension Stress Limit (Ft) represents the Tension Stress limit applied to the custom wood.

    Shear Stress (Fv)

    Shear Stress Limit (Fv) represents the Shear Stress limit applied to the custom wood.

    Compression Parallel to Grain (Fc)

    Compression Parallel to Grain Stress (Fc) Limit represents the Compression Parallel to Grain Stress limit applied to the custom wood.

    Elastic Modulus (E)

    Modulus of Elasticity (E) represents the Modulus of Elasticity applied to the custom wood.

    Fifth Percentile Modulus of Elasticity

     

    Fifth Percentile Modulus of Elasticity only applies for Canadian CSA O86 design; it is ignored for NDS design. It represents the 5th Percentile Modulus of Elasticity applied to the custom wood.

    Structural Composite Lumber

    Structural Composite Lumber is used to determine design variables (COVE, Emin, c, etc.) and design calculations.

    CF/KZ

    CF/KZ represents the Wood Size Factor.

    The program defaults to 1.0, unless you manually enter a different value.

    Specific Gravity

    Specific Gravity represents the Specific Gravity applied to the custom wood.

  3. Click the Close button to close the Custom Wood Species Database window.
Note:

Create and Apply a Custom Wood Material

To create and apply custom material:

  1. Open the Materials spreadsheet.
  2. Click on the Wood tab.

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  3. Select the last row in the spreadsheet and press Enter to create a new entry.
  4. In the Label box, type a name for the new custom property.
  5. Click on the Wood Type arrow and choose Custom from the list.
  6. Do one of the following to define the custom species of the property you are adding.

    • Click on the Species arrow and choose from the existing custom species to include.

      The list of available species is read in from the Custom Wood Properties window.

      Note that you can click the ‘Edit’ button to open the Edit Custom Wood Species window in which you can modify the properties of this species.

    • Click the Add button to open the Add Custom Species window in which you can add a new custom species.

  7. (Optional) Use the Design Properties options to change any of the default design properties for the custom wood you are adding.

    Note that the Elastic Modulus Modifier Emod is a factor that is applied to the Young’s modulus modifier to reflect the NDS Appendix F criteria. This is not applicable to the CSA O86 design code.

  8. Click OK to apply the new custom wood material and close the Edit Wood Material window.

Note: The Type menu is used to designate whether the entry is a “Visually Graded” sawn lumber, a “MSR” mechanically graded lumber, a “MEL” mechanically graded lumber, a “Glulam” material, or a “SCL” (structural composite lumber). This selection effects the design factors and the applicable provisions of the selected design code.

For additional advice on this topic, please see the RISA Tips & Tricks webpage at risa.com/post/support. Type in Search keywords: Custom Wood Species.

Wood Design Parameters

The Wood Design Parameters spreadsheet records the design parameters for the timber code checks and may be accessed by selecting Members from the Data Entry toolbar on the Explorer panel and then clicking on the Wood tab.  These parameters may also be assigned graphically.  See Modifying Member Design to learn how to do this.

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These parameters are defined for each member.

Wood Design Parameters

Parameter

Description

Label

The Label column lets you assign a unique Label to all of the members. Each label must be unique, so if you try to enter the same label more than once you get an error message.

You can relabel at any time by right clicking in the spreadsheet and choosing either Relabel All Members or Relabel Selected Members.

Shape

The member Shape (or Section Set) column value is listed for reference only and can not be edited, as it is dictated by the entry in the ‘Section/Shape’ column on the Primary tab.

Length

The memberLength column lists the length of the material.This value can not be edited, as it is dependent on the member end coordinates listed on the Primary Data tab. Length is listed here only as a reference for unbraced lengths, which are discussed in the next section.

Unbraced Length

See the Unbraced Lengths topic.

K Factors (Effective Length Factors)

See the Unbraced Lengths topic.

Adjustment Factors

Please see below for information about the various wood adjustment factors.

Sway Flags

See the Unbraced Lengths topic.

Timber Design Adjustment Factors

The Timber Design Adjustment Factors (a.k.a. NDS Adjustment Factor) design codes have a number of adjustment factors that are applied to the various allowable stresses to determine the capacity of the member. The adjustment factors are summarized in section 2.3 of the code. The following topics help to summarize how adjustment factors are obtained and used. 

Note:

Timber Design CD (Load Duration Factor- NDS)

CD is the Load Duration adjustment factor used for ASD codes. It is entered on the Load Combinations spreadsheet for each load combination for which you want wood code check results. The CD factor must be entered for each individual load combination because the CD factor is dependent on the types of loads that are applied in each load combination. Therefore, different load combinations could have different CD factors. For example, per the NDS 2018 specification, a load combination that had only dead load, would have a CD factor of 0.9, while another combination that was comprised of dead load plus wind load would have a CD factor of 1.6.

The CD factor will only be applied to wood code checks on wood members. See Table 2.3.2 in the NDS 2018 specification for the CD factors to be applied for typical loads. Appendix B has additional information about the Load Duration Factor.

Note: The CD factor used for a load combination should be for the load with the shortest load duration in that load combination.

Timber Design Cm (Wet Service Factor)

Cm is the Wet Service adjustment factor. It is applied when you check the Cm checkbox in the Materials Spreadsheet.

Timber Design Ci (Incision Factor- NDS)

Ci is the Incision factor per Table 4.3.8 of NDS code. It is applied when you check the Ci checkbox in the Materials Spreadsheet.

Timber Design Ct (Temperature Factor)

Ct is the Temperature adjustment factor. It is calculated internally based on the wood Temperature value set on the Codes tab of Model Settings. See section 2.3.3 of the NDS 2018 for more information on this factor.

Timber Design CP and CL (Column/Beam Stability Factors - NDS)

The Column Stability Factor, CP, and the Beam Stability Factor, CL, are calculated internally. These calculated values are shown on the Wood tab of the Code Check Spreadsheet, as well as in the Member Detail Reports. See NDS 2018 section 3.3.3 for information on the CL factor and NDS 2018 section 3.7.1 for information on the CP factor.

The value of Emin used for the calculation of these factors is calculated using equation D-4 from appendix D of the 2018 NDS. For some members (especially for glulams) this equation may produce a slightly more accurate value of Emin that shown in the NDS tables.

Note: The column stability factor, CP, is affected by the Kf factor from NDS 2018 section 15.3.2, depending on whether multi-ply members are bolted or nailed together. Bolted columns will have a shape name with a B after. See the Wood-Database topic for information on how to define bolted vs nailed multi-ply members.

Timber Design CF (Size Factor- NDS)

CF is the Size adjustment factor. It is applied automatically when you assign a wood shape from the NDS shape database. See Tables 4A, 4B, 4D, and 4E in the NDS supplement for information on the CF factor.

Note: Prior to the 2012 NDS, Table 4D (Reference Values for Timbers) combined the Size Factor(CF) and the Flat Use Factor (Cfu) under the Size Factor (CF) description. Per the code commentary, you are required to apply both the CF per the equation in Table 4D and the CF per the tabular values. To clarify between the two, the program calls the calculated value (per the equation) CF and the tabular value Cfu. This is verified with clarification in the NDS 2012 design code.

Timber Design CV (Volume Factor)

CV is the Volume adjustment factor. It is applied automatically when you assign a glulam or SCL material member. The user can override the calculated value by manually entering the factor on the Wood tab of the Members Spreadsheet.

Note:

Timber Design Cfu (Flat Use Factor)

Cfu is the Flat Use adjustment factor. is automatically applied to the weak axis allowable bending stress of a wood member whenever weak axis moments are present. See the tables in the NDS supplement for more information on this factor.

Note: Prior to the 2012 NDS, Table 4D (Reference Values for Timbers) combined the Size Factor(CF) and the Flat Use Factor (Cfu) under the Size Factor (CF) description. Per the code commentary, you are required to apply both the CF per the equation in Table 4D and the CF per the tabular values. To clarify between the two, the program calls the calculated value (per the equation) CF and the tabular value Cfu. This is verified with clarification in the NDS 2012 design code.

Timber Design Cr (Repetitive Factor)

Cr is the Repetitive Member adjustment factor. This factor specifies if the beam is one of a group of repetitive members.  This design parameter can be set on the Wood tab of the Members Spreadsheet. If you put a check in the Cr field, a factor of 1.15 will be applied to beam members that are 2" to 4" thick.  See the section 4.3.9 of the NDS 2018 for information on this factor.

Note:

Timber Design CH (Shear Stress Factor)

CH is the Shear Stress adjustment factor. This design parameter can be set on the Wood tab of the Members Spreadsheet. If left blank the program will use a default value of 1.0. See the tables in the NDS supplement for information on other CH factors.

Note:

Timber Design Cf (Form Factor)

Cf is the Form adjustment factor. It is applied automatically when designing by the NDS 91/97 or 2001 Specification and a 'Round' shape is selected from the NDS shape database. See section 2.3.8 in the NDS (91/97, 2001) for information on the Cf factor.

Note:

Timber Design Kf (Format Conversation Factor)

Kf is the format conversion factor for LRFD design only. The tabulated reference design values provided in the NDS Supplement contain safety adjustments appropriate for ASD. The Kf factor converts these values to nominal design values for LRFD. These factors are provided in NDS Table 4.3.1 and Appendix N.

Timber Design Phi (Resistance Factor)

Phi is the resistance factor for LRFD design only. These values are provided in NDS Table 4.3.1 and are dependent on the property ranging from 0.75 for shear and 0.90 for compression.

Timber Design lambda (Time Effect Factor- NDS)

Lambda is the Time Effect adjustment factor used for LRFD codes. It is entered on the Load Combinations spreadsheet for each load combination for which you want wood code check results. The lambda factor must be entered for each individual load combination because the lambda factor is dependent on the combination of loads. Therefore, different load combinations could have different lambda factors. For example, per the NDS 2018 specification, a load combination that had only dead load, would have a CD factor of 0.6, while another combination that was comprised of dead load plus wind load would have a CD factor of 1.0.

The lambda factor will only be applied to wood code checks on wood members. See Table N3 in the NDS 2018 specification for the lambda factors to be applied for typical load combinations.

CSA O86 Adjustment Factors

The CSA O86 design code has a number of adjustment factors that are applied to the various allowable stresses to determine the capacity of the member. The adjustment factors are summarized in clause 4.3 of the code. The following topics help to summarize how adjustment factors are obtained and used. 

Note: KB (Length of Bearing Factor), KE (End Fixity Factor), KF (Foundation Factor for plywood), KM (Bending Capacity Modification Factor), KN (Notch Factor), KR (Radial Stress Factor), KT (Treatment Factor), and KX (Curvature Factor) are NOT used in the RISA analysis.

Timber Design KD (Load Duration Factor - CSA)

KD is the Load Duration adjustment factor. It is entered on the Load Combinations spreadsheet for each load combination for which you want wood code check results. The KD factor must be entered for each individual load combination because the factor is dependent on the types of loads that are applied in each load combination. Therefore, different load combinations could have different KD factors. For example, per the CSA O86 -2009 specification, a load combination that had only dead load, would have a KD factor of 0.65, while another combination that was comprised of dead load plus wind load would have a KD factor of 1.15.

The KD factor will only be applied to wood code checks on wood members. See Table 5.3.2.2 in the CSA O86 - 2014 specification for the KD factors to be applied for typical loads.

Note: The KD factor used for a load combination should be for the load with the shortest load duration in that load combination.

Timber Design Ks (Service Condition Factor)

Ks is the Service Condition adjustment factor. It is applied when you check the Ks check-box in the Materials Spreadsheet. See clause 6.4.2 (sawn lumber) or clause 7.4.2 (glulams) in the CSA O86-14 for more information on this factor.

Timber Design CV (Shear Load Coefficient-CSA)

CV is the Shear Load coefficient for glulam members. It is applied automatically when you assign a material from the CSA Table 7.3 glulam material database. By default this value will always be taken as 1.0. However, the user can override this value by manually entering the factor on the Wood tab of the Members Spreadsheet.

Timber Design KH (System Factor)

KH is the System adjustment factor. This factor depends on the System Factor selection applied to the member on the Wood tab of the Members spreadsheet:

Note:

Timber Design KZ (Size Factor- CSA)

KZ is the Size factor. It is applied automatically when you assign a wood shape from the CSA shape database. See Table 6.4.5 in the CSA O86-14 design code for information on this factor.

Timber Design KL (Lateral Stability Factor - CSA)

KL is the Lateral Stability factor. This factor is calculated internally per the equation given in clause 7.5.6.4.4 for both glulam and full sawn members.

The final calculated values of both CB and KL are shown on the Wood tab of the Code Check Spreadsheet, as well as in the Member Detail Reports.

Note: Clause 6.5.4.2.1 allows full sawn members to use the glulam clause 7.5.6.4 to determine KL.

Timber Design KC (Slenderness Factor)

KC is the Slenderness factor. This factor is calculated internally per the equation given in clause 6.5.6.2.4 for full sawn members and per clause 7.5.8.5 for glulam members.

Note: The program will use the maximum Cc value (per clause 6.5.6.2.2 or 7.5.8.2) in the KC calculation.

Timber Design Flat Use Factor -CSA

The Flat Use factor is just called "Flat Use" in the member detail report. There is no explicit factor for this defined in the CSA O86-14 design code. However, there is a note for Table 6.3.1C (Material Strengths for Beams and Stringers) that includes a flat use adjustment factor. The program will determine this factor based on the asterisk table under Table 6.3.1C.

Limitations

Wood Design Limitations

Adjustment Factor Limitations

NDS Emin Calculation

RISA will calculate the Emin value for NDS wood materials rather than read it in from the design tables. In the 2018 edition of the NDS, Emin is calculated per equation (D-4) from Appendix D.

COVE (the coefficient of variation in modulus of elasticity) comes from Table F1 in Appendix F.

Note: If your member is a glulam or SCL material, the Emin equation becomes:

Wood Code Check Results

Access the Wood Code Checks Spreadsheet by selecting the Code Check spreadsheet from the Results toolbar on the Explorer Panel and then clicking the Wood tab.

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Code Checks

The final result of the design solution are the code check values (ratios of actual stress to allowable stress).  So, if these values are less than 1.0, the member passes.  If they are greater than 1.0, the member fails. 

Note:

The UC Max value represents the combined bending and axial force stresses. The governing equation that was used to calculate the UC Max value is listed at the far right of the spreadsheet in the Eqn column.

The Shear UC is the maximum ratio of actual to allowable shear stress.

The Loc fields that are to the right of the code check fields tells at what location the maximum code check occurs measured from the I-joint location of the member.

The Dir field tells us in which local member direction the maximum shear is occurring (y or z).

Capacity Values

The values (Fc', Ft', Fb1', Fb2', Fv') are the factored allowable stresses per NDS wood member design.

The values (Pr, Tr, Mr, Vr/Wr) are the allowable forces per CSA O86 wood member design. These will only be visible when you have selected the CSA O86-09: Ultimate or CSA O86-14: Ultimate as your wood design code in .Model Settings.

Finally, the Equation controlling the code check is listed. For NDS wood member design, this will be either Eqn. 3.9-1 or 3.9-3.  Eqn. 3.9-2 is not checked since this equation includes the tension stress in a beneficial (non-conservative) manner.  All other requirements in Section 3.9 are also checked, such as fc < FcE1, etc.  To see ALL the adjustment factors and other information used to calculate the factored allowable stresses, please go to a detail report for the member in question.  You can do that by right clicking in a spreadsheet row and clicking Detailed Report or by clicking the Detailed Report button on the Results ribbon.

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Note:

Special Messages

In some instances code checks are not performed for a particular member. A message explaining why a code check is not possible will be listed instead of the code check value. You may click the cell that contains the message and look to the status bar to view the full message. Following are the messages that may be listed:

Code Check Not Calculated

This is the general message displayed when code checks were not performed for a member. It could mean that you have not selected a Design Code in Model Settings, or you have not included any load combinations for this material type in your solution. Check the Design tab of the Load Combinations spreadsheet.

RB value is greater than 50

Section 3.3.3.7 of the NDS code limits the slenderness ratio RB to a maximum of 50. Similarly, clause 7.5.6.4.3 of the CSA O86 limits CB to a maximum of 50. You will need to reduce the effective span length, increase the thickness of the shape, or reduce the depth of the shape.

le/d is greater than 50

Section 3.7.1.4 of the NDS code limits the column slenderness ratio of Le1/b or Le2/d to a maximum of 50. You need to reduce your effective length by reducing the actual length between supports or changing the effective length factor K. You can also use a thicker shape.

fc is greater than FcE1

Section 3.9.2 of the NDS code limits the actual axial compressive stress to be less than the term FcE1. This term is approximately the Euler buckling stress for buckling about the strong axis of the member. (Buckling is in the plane of bending)

fc is greater than FcE2

Section 3.9.2 of the NDS code limits the actual axial compressive stress to be less than the term FcE2. This term is approximately the Euler buckling stress for buckling about the weak axis of the member. (Buckling is in the plane of bending)

fb1 is greater than FbE

Section 3.9.2 of the NDS code limits the actual strong axis bending compressive stress to be less than the term FbE. This term is approximately the lateral buckling stress.