SAMPLE PROBLEMS

1. VERTICAL SHEAR
If a symmetrically loaded construction grade 612 in. nom. Douglas fir Larch beam has a
maximum end reaction of 30,000 lb, what is its unit stress in vertical shear? Is the beam
safe?
Rectangular sections: kVv = 0.67 fv b d

Vv = end reaction (total vertical shear), lb. V=30,000 lb.

fv = max. unit stress in vertical shear for species and
grade of
wood, ? lb/in 2 . From Table 3-10, fv for const. D.F.Larch=900 lb/in2 .
b = minimum width or diameter of vertical shear plane, in. From
Table 3-11, actual width of 6 in. nom. timber=5.5 in.
d = min. depth of vert. shear plane, in. This includes
Table 3-11, actual depth of 12 in. nom. timber=11.5 in.

notches. From

30,000 = 0.67 fv x 5.5 x 11.5 fv = 708 lb/in 2

708 fv = 900

OK

2. HORIZONTAL SHEAR
Example . If a uniformly loaded 612 in. nom. construction grade
Douglas fir Larch beam has an end reaction of 30,000 lb. and is 12'6" long, what is its unit stress in horizontal shear? Is the beam
safe?

Rectangular sections: Vh = 0.5 fh b Lh

Vh = vertical shear end reaction, lb. Vh =30,000 lb.
fh = max. unit stress in horizontal shear for species and grade of wood, ? lb/in 2 . From
Table 3-10, fh for const. D.F. Larch=95 lb/in 2 .
b = width or diagonal of horizontal shear plane, in. Nom. beam width=5.5 in.
Lh = length of horizontal shear plane, in. In symmetrically loaded beams, Lh =0.5 L.
0.5 L=0.5 x 12'-6"=75 in.

30,000 = 0.67x fh x 5.5 x 75 fh = 109 lb/in 2

109 not fv = 95

NG

3. DESIGN OF BEAM MOMENT

Example 1. What is the maximum bending moment for a beam of unseasoned No. 2 grade
Douglas fir South if its span is 16'-0" and it supports 3,600 lb? What is the beams optimal
width and depth?
Step 1. Find the beams maximum moment, then its section modulus.

M?= Mmax = fb Sx
M?= applicable moment formula from Table 3-5. For uniform load, single span,
supports free (assumed), use Mmax = 0.125 W L.
Mmax =maximum moment of applied load, ? in-lb
W = weight of uniform load, if any, lb. W=3,600 lb.
P = weight of each point load, if any, lb. Not applicable.
L = length of span, in. 16'-0x12 in/ft=192 in.
fb = safe unit stress in bending for species and grade of wood, lb/in 2 . From Table 3-10, fb
for Douglas fir South=1,150 lb/in 2 x 1.38 for No. 2 grade x 0.85 for unseasoned
(seasoned in place). fb =1,150 x 1.38 x 0.85=1,350 lb/in 2.
Sx = section modulus of beam section, ? in 3

(two equations, two unknowns: first find Mmax , then Sx )

"

Mmax = 0.125 WL = 0.125 x 3,600 x 192 = 86,400 in-lb

"

Mmax = fb Sx . . . 86,400 = 1,350 Sx

Sx = 64.0 in 3

Step 2. From Table 3-11 select the section moduli of standard

lumber sizes that64.0 in 3 , then list their sectional areas. The beam
with the smallest area is the economical section.
Nom. size, inin.
Section modulus,
in 3 C-S area, in 2
4x12 ...................................... 73.8 .................. 39.4 ...
6x10 ..................................... 82.7 .................. 52.3
8x8 ....................................... 70.3 .................. 56.3

Economical section is 4x12

Example 2. What is the maximum bending moment of a 1012 in. nom.

Douglas fir Larch beam of 20'-0" span if it supports a dead load of
60 lb/lf and a live load of 3 uniformly spaced point loads of 1,600
lb each? What is the beams maximum unit stress? Is it safe?

Step 1. Divide the total load into parts whose formulas are found in Table 3-5. This
method is valid only if Mmax occurs at the same point of the span for each load.

Mmax = M?1 +M?2 + M?n

M?1 = applicable moment formula for partial load 1, from Table 3-5. As dead load
uniform load, simple span, supports free, use M?1 = 0.125 W L.
M?2 = applicable moment formula for partial load 1. As
loads, simple span, supports free, use M?2 = 0.333 P L.

live load is 2 symmetrical

is
point

Mmax = 0.125 W L+0.333 P L

Mmax = maximum moment of beam, ? in/lb
W = uniform load on beam, 60 lb/lf20.0 ft=1,200 lb
P = weight of each equal point load on span, 1,600 lb
L = length of span, 20.0 ft12=240 in.

Mmax = 0.125 x 1,200 x 240+0.500 x 1,600 x 240 = 228,000 ft-lb

Step 2. Find the beams maximum unit stress.

M? = Mmax = fb Sx
Mmax = maximum moment of beam, from Step 1,

228,000 in/lb

fb = max. unit stress in bending for species and grade of wood, ft-lb. From Table 3-10, fb
for
construction grade (standard) Douglas fir Larch=1,200 ft-lb/in 2 .
S = section modulus of beam section, in 3 . From Table 3-11, S for 10x12 in. nom.
section=209 in 3 .

228,000 1,200 x 209 228,000 251,000

4. DEFLECTION

OK

What is the maximum deflection of a 4X10 Douglas fir Larch beam with a uniform load of
180 lb/lf on a 16-0 span? If the beams underside is a plaster ceiling, is the deflection
allowable?
Step 1. Compute the beams maximum deflection.
Dmax = D? kd L
Dmax = maximum deflection due to applied load, ? in.
D = applicable deflection formula from Table 3-5. For uniform load, single span, supports
free, use Dmax =0.0130 WL 3 /E I.
W = total weight of any uniform load, lb. 180 lb/lf18.0 ft=3,240 lb.
L = length of span, in. 16 ft x12 in/ft=192 in.
E = modulus of elasticity for species and grade of wood. From Table 3-10, E for Douglas fir
Larch=1,500,000.
I = moment of inertia of beam section, in4 . From Table 3-11, I for 4x10 in. nom. section=231
in4 .
kd = coefficient of allowable deflection. From Table 3-7, kd for beam with plaster ceiling on
underside=0.00278.
Dmax = 0.0130x3,240x192 3 /1,500,000x231 0.00278x192
0.862 in. 0.534 in.
NG
5. BEARING AREA
If a 6X10 girder of construction grade Southern pine has an end reaction of 3,340 lb, what is
the required length and width of its bearing area at this support?

P = ba bb fc sin
P = total end reaction, 3,340 lb
ba = breadth or width of beam above bearing area, in. From Table 3-11, width for 610 in.
nom. section=5.5 in.
bb = width of support below bearing area, ? in. b3.5 in.
fc = safe stress in compression to grain for species and grade of wood, lb/in 2 . From
Table 3-10, fc for Southern pine, construction grade=4051.00=405 lb/in 2 .
= angle of intersection between beam and support. As most such intersections are 90,
assume =90 sin 90=1.00.
3,340 = 405 x 5.5 x bb x 1.00 bb = 1.50 in. 3.50 in.

6. LATERAL SUPPORT