Worked Example
Capacity Check
Compression Capacity of a Member
Check the capacity of a 150 x 38 F17 unseasoned spotted gum (hardwood) top chord
truss supporting a roof in an assembly hall that is also used as an evacuation shelter in
Mackay Northem Queensland. Connections will be by nailplates,
‘The length of the member is 3.1 metres with restraint by roof battens @ 900mm centres
in the minor axis direction only.
‘The member has the following nominal (unfactored) compression loads:
Permanent actions G=9AkN permanent
Imposed actions - construction loads 9 KN medium-term
Ultimate wind actions (downwards) 24.2 KN giving compression
Wind serviceability (downwards) W, {= 6.0 kN in the topchord
3.1m 900mm
Solution:
(All Tables and Clauses in <> are found in AS1720.1.)
Strength Limit State Capacity Check
Compression forces in chord member for different combinations:
Strength Limit State Load Combinations: from ASNZS 1170.0
(a) permanent actions 1.35G = (1.35%9.4) 2.69 kN
(b) 5 day loading (typical of construction) 12G+1.5Q = (1.29.4) +(1.5x3.9) = 17.13 KN
(c) Ultimate wind actions (downwards) 12G+W. = (1.2x9.4) + 24.2 35.48 KN
Note: The wind loading on roofs can often lead to two ultimate wind loads - en upwards wind
load and a downward wind action. Here, only the wind load that gives compression in the
chord has been shown, (As we are performing a compression check, only the downward wind
action will be considered here. The upward wind action will apply tension to the top chord
and may necessitate a tension check on the same member.) Because the wind load and the
permanent loads are in the same direction, (both producing compression in the chord), the 1.2
load factor has been used with the permanent action. Had the permanent action been in an
opposite sense to the wind loads, a 0.9 load factor would have been used with the permanent
action. For unseasoned timber allow a reduction of 3 mm all around for production tolerance. Use
design dimensions for the cross section of 147 x 35.
f'cfor F17 material = 34 MPa
The method of grading is unknown (but probably visual grading).
The structure fulfills a post-disaster function.
The long span roof trusses in an assembly hall each support a large area of roof, hence any
element failure could lead to collapse of a portion of the roof. The trusses and all elements in
them should be treated as primary structural elements.
Capacity factors:
@ = 0.75 stress grade FI7 and higher, primary element, post-disaster structure)
Modification factors:
Duration of load factor k; for each load combination calculated above.
(a) ky =0.57 permanent actions
(b) = 0.94 5 day loading (typical of construction)
© 00 Ultimate wind actions (downwards)
Unseasoned timber
k= 10 <24.2>
(We may have chosen to use 1.15 from , but if the design wind event occurs soon
after construction, partial seasoning would not be complete, so to be conservative use 1.0)
Mackay is located in a high temperature zone
= 0.9 <2.4,3>
Stability factor 12
Slenderness
* Major axis buckling
gi: = 0.7 (Restrained at both ends in position and direction)
Nail plates can provide a moment transfer between chord and web members. For major axis
buckling, the web members can prevent rotation of the chords at the node points of the truss.
This restraint condition is modelled by a g13 value less than 1 for this buckling direction only.
'; slendemess coefficient for buckling about the major axis for discrete res:raint systems is
L,
the lesser of “2 «3/00 91.99 and S04 0.793100 igng <3.3.22>
a 147 dq 147
Use $3 = 14.76
+ Minor axis buckling
gis = 1.0 (Restrained at battens in position only) Intermediate restraints such as battens simply prevent lateral movement at the point. The
buckled shape of the top chord in minor axis buckling will be a classic ‘s’ shape, so there is
no rotational restraint. (It is quite common to have different gi3 values for the two buckling
directions.)
S, slenderness coefficient for buckling about the minor axis for discrete restraint systems
minor axis
L, ;
20 900 9571 ang Sab _123100
b 35 b 35
is the lesser of 8.57 <33.2.2>
Slenderness S is the larger of $3 and Sy. S3= 14,76 and S,= 25.71 => S=
Stability factor using = 1.25 (unseasoned F17)
p.S= 125% 571= 32.14ie. pp, S> 20
hy = OO 200 0.194 <33.3>
(p. 5) 14)
Capacity check
Nae = Ok hy ke kf" Ae <33.1.1>
net area allowing for unfilled holes only - as there will be nailplates in the member, this
the gross area of the top chord
Ac=dxb
A, =147x 35 =5145 mm?
Permanent duration loads (ky =0.57)
N, 75 x 0.57 x 1.0 x0.9 x 0.194 x 34 x 5145
=13.1x10° N
(@) Nac 13.1 KN - to be compared with Icad combinations involving permanent loads ie.
12.69 KN, Capacity is ok.
5 day duration loads (k= 0.94)
N,, =0.75 x 0.94 x 1,0 x 0.9 x 0.194 x34 x 5145 =21.5x10° N
(b) Nac =21.5 KN - to be compared with load combinations involving at least one medium
term load such as construction or maintenance loads ie. 17.13 KN. Capacity is ok.
Instantaneous duration loads (ky = 1.0)
Ny. = 0.75 x 1.0 x 1.0.x 0.9 x 0.194 x 34 x 5145 = 22.9 x 10°
(©) Nac = 22.9 KN - to be compared with load combinations involving wind actions ie
35.48 KN. Capacity is not adequate.
The 150 x 38 member does not have the capacity to resist all of the specified loads.
