Columns

Fc = σc A Fc σm W = M0

N M

Fig. 5.5 Laterally loaded, simply supported column with initial moment M0 in the
mid-height of the column

In principle, the calculations are the same as for the concentrically

loaded column, but with a formal initial eccentricity in the middle of
ðe þ M0 =Fc Þ. Due to the axial force this moment is increased by the
factor c =ðc ÿ E Þ.
For a laterally loaded columns it shall be verified that:
c 
þ m1 ð5:16Þ
kc;y fc;0 fm
If the column is not simply supported or if the moment is not maximum
in the middle, m should be taken as the moment that is increased
substantially due to the deflection.
For the general case with bending about two axes it shall be verified
that:
c m;y þ km m;z
þ 1 ð5:17aÞ
kc;y fc;0 fm
c km m;y þ m;z
þ 1 ð5:17bÞ
kc;z fc;0 fm
where:
kc;y is the column factor for deflection in z axis direction (bending
about the y—y axis);
kc;z is the column factor for deflection in the y axis direction
(bending about the z—z axis);
km is the factor taking into account that it is unlikely that total
failure takes place when the strength is exceeded in one cross-
section corner only. Normally a value of km ¼ 0:7 is used.

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 Practical design of timber structures to Eurocode 5

Note that even when the bending moment acts about the y—y axis both
conditions shall be fulfilled to take into account any coupling effects
between the deflections. In practice the main axes are not necessary
parallel to the sides of the cross-section because of knots etc.

Example 5.2
Fd = 12 kN Md = 1.5 kNm

Bracing at compression side of column

2400 mm

A simply supported rectangular column of C16 with planed cross-

section 44  145 mm and length of l ¼ 2400 mm, with a permanent
concentric load of Fd ¼ 12:0 kN and a uniformly distributed lateral
wind load inducing a design moment of Md ¼ 1:5 kNm at mid-
height about the strong axis is used outdoors to support a roof.
The column is in a service Class 2 condition. The compression side
of the column is braced in its full length.
Show that the column has sufficient load-carrying capacity.
fc;0 17
¼ ¼ 0:00314
E 5400
For axial compression load alone:
Permanent load:
12 000
c;0;d ¼ ¼ 1:88 N=mm2
44
145
kmod ¼ 0:6

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 Columns

M ¼ 1:3

fc;0;d ¼ 0:6
17=1:30 ¼ 7:85 N=mm2

i ¼ 41:9 mm

 ¼ 2400=41:9 ¼ 57:3
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
 fc;0;k 57:3 pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
rel ¼ ¼ 0:00314 ¼ 1:024
 Ek 

From Expression (5.14):

k ¼ 0:5½1 þ 0:2
ð1:024 ÿ 0:3Þ þ 1:0242 Š ¼ 1:097

From Expression (5.10):

1
kc ¼ pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi ¼ 0:671
1:097 þ 1:0972 ÿ 1:0242
From Expression (5.16):
c;d 1:88
¼ ¼ 0:36 < 1
kc fc;0;d 0:671
7:85

For axial load and moment:

The wind, which is classed as instantaneous, determines kmod . For

service Class 2, kmod ¼ 1:1:

fc;0;d ¼ 1:10
ð17=1:3Þ ¼ 14:38 N=mm2

fm;d ¼ 1:10
ð16=1:3Þ ¼ 13:54 N=mm2

m;d ¼ 1:5
106
6=ð44
1452 Þ ¼ 9:73 N=mm2

From Expression (5.16):

c;d m;d 1:88 9:73
þ ¼ þ ¼ 0:19 þ 0:72
kc;y fc;d fm;d 0:671
14:38 13:53
¼ 0:91 < 1

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 Practical design of timber structures to Eurocode 5

Example 5.3
The same column as that in Example 5.2 is held against deflection in
the weak direction in the mid-height only.
Show that the column has sufficient load-carrying capacity.

Fd = 12 kN M = 1.5 kNm

Bracing
2400 mm

1200 mm

The column may deflect in both main directions. Deflection about

the strong axis is already covered by Example 3.2. Only checking
of deflection about the weak axis is required.
For axial load alone:
For l ¼ 1200 mm, i ¼ 12:7 mm:
1200 pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
rel ¼ 0:00314 ¼ 1:69
12:7
k ¼ 0:5½1 þ 0:2ð1:69 ÿ 0:3Þ þ 1:692 Š ¼ 2:062
1
kc ¼ pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi ¼ 0:308
2:062 þ 2:0622 ÿ 1:692
c;d 1:88
¼ ¼ 0:77 < 1
kc fc;0;d 0:308
7:85
For axial load and moment:
150 0:2
 
kh ¼ ¼ 1:28 < 1:3
44

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 Columns

From Expression (5.17b):

1:88 0:7
9:73
þ ¼ 0:42 þ 0:7
0:55
0:308
14:38 1:28
13:54
¼ 0:42 þ 0:39 ¼ 0:81 < 1
Therefore the load-carrying capacity of the column is adequate.

5.4 Lateral torsional buckling of laterally loaded columns

In the examples above it has been assumed that the failure takes place
due to bending in the main direction. For deep, narrow cross-sections
loaded in bending about the strong axis a failure mode with combined
lateral deflection and torsion is possible or more likely. To take this
into account it should for m;rel > 0:75 be verified that:
c;d m;y;d 2
 
þ 1 ð5:18Þ
kc;z fc;0;d kcr fm;d
where kc;z is the column factor for deflection in the weak direction and
kcr is the factor for lateral instability, see Expression (4.28).

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 6
Curved beams and frames

6.1 Curved beam

Loading a curved beam in bending will result in stresses both parallel
and perpendicular to the beam (see Fig. 6.1). The normal stresses in
the convex side of the beam are smaller than the stresses at the concave
side and the stresses at the concave side are larger than the stresses in a
corresponding straight beam. The reason for this is that even if
the deformations vary linearly, the strains will not do so because of
the varying fibre lengths. Normally these effects are disregarded,
i.e. the stress is for a rectangular cross-section calculated as for a straight
beam:
out ¼ in ¼ 6M=bh2 ð6:1Þ
The bending stresses m developed during the fabrication when the
laminations with thickness t are formed to a curvature 1=r are theoreti-
cally rather high. In the outermost fibres:
m ¼ Et=ð2rÞ ð6:2Þ
These internal stresses reduce the load-bearing capacity of the cross-
section.
For an elastic modulus E ¼ 12 000 N/mm2 , a lamella thickness
t ¼ 33 mm and a radius r ¼ 5000 mm, the bending stress becomes
m ¼ 40 N/mm2 , i.e. corresponding to the characteristic strength.
Experimental results show, however, that the built-in stresses become
significantly smaller, probably due to creep that occurs during the
hardening process where moisture from the adhesive is added.
According to Eurocode 5 the strength values for bending, tension and
compression for r=t < 240 should be reduced by the factor:
r
kcurve ¼ 0:76 þ 0:001 ð1Þ ð6:3Þ
t
The bending moment results also in stresses perpendicular to grain.
The following simplified derivation of the transversal stresses illustrates

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 Curved beams and frames

σy
M

σ90

rmid
h σi
r
M

Fig. 6.1 Stress variation in a plane curved beam with constant bending moment

this effect. It is assumed that the normal stresses vary linearly over the
beam depth (see Fig. 6.2), i.e. the influence of the non-linear stress
distribution is disregarded. The force resultant F on one half of the
cross-section is F ¼ 1:5M=h. Equilibrium of the marked element
loaded by F on both cross-sections and the stress 90 requires:
Fd ¼ 90 brmid d
F M
90 ¼ ¼ 1:5 ð6:4Þ
brmid bhrmid
where b is the thickness (width) of the beam.
When the moment distribution tends to reduce the curvature, as is
the case in Fig. 6.3, the stresses perpendicular to the grain are tensile
stresses and it is necessary to take into account that the strength
perpendicular to grain depends on the stressed volume. The relevant

M 2
3 h
ds F

Fd F
F

d
σ90

F M

Fig. 6.2 Internal forces and tension stresses perpendicular to the grain direction in
a curved beam

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