TABLE XXII
WORKING UNIT-STRESSES FOR STRUCTURAL TIMBER[c]
EXPRESSED IN POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH
(From Manual of the American Railway Engineering Assn., 1911, p. 153)
NOTE.—The working unit-stresses given in the table are intended for railroad bridges and trestles. For highway bridges and trestles the unit-stresses may be increased twenty-five (25) per cent. For buildings and similar structures, in which the timber is protected from the weather and practically free from impact, the unit-stresses may be increased fifty (50) per cent. To compute the deflection of a beam under long-continued loading instead of that when the load is first applied, only fifty (50) per cent of the corresponding modulus of elasticity given in the table is to be employed.
KIND OF TIMBER BENDING SHEARING COMPRESSION Ratio of length of stringer to depth
Extreme fibre stress Modulus of elasticity Parallel to the grain Longitudinal shear in beams Perpendicular to the grain Parallel to the grain For columns under 15 diameters working stress Formulæ for working stress in long columns over 15 diameters
Average ultimate Working stress Average Average ultimate Working stress Average ultimate Working stress Elastic limit Working stress Average ultimate Working stress
Douglas fir 6100 1200 1,510,000 690 170 270 110 630 310 3600 1200 900 1200 (1 - l / 60 d) 10
Longleaf pine 6500 1300 1,610,000 720 180 300 120 520 260 3800 1300 980 1300 (1 - l / 60 d) 10
Shortleaf pine 5600 1100 1,480,000 710 170 330 130 340 170 3400 1100 830 1100 (1 - l / 60 d) 10
White pine 4400 900 1,130,000 400 100 180 70 290 150 3000 1000 750 1000 (1 - l / 60 d) 10
Spruce 4800 1000 1,310,000 600 150 170 70 370 180 3200 1100 830 1100 (1 - l / 60 d)
Norway pine 4200 800 1,190,000 590[d] 130 250 100
150 2600[d] 800 600 800 (1 - l / 60 d)
Tamarack 4600 900 1,220,000 670 170 260 100
220 3200[d] 1000 750 1000 (1 - l / 60 d)
Western hemlock 5800 1100 1,480,000 630 160 270[d] 100 440 220 3500 1200 900 1200 (1 - l / 60 d)
Redwood 5000 900 800,000 300 80

400 150 3300 900 680 900 (1 - l / 60 d )
Bald cypress 4800 900 1,150,000 500 120

340 170 3900 1100 830 1100 (1 - l / 60 d)
Red cedar 4200 800 800,000



470 230 2800 900 680 900 (1 - l / 60 d)
White oak 5700 1100 1,150,000 840 210 270 110 920 450 3500 1300 980 1300 (1 - l / 60 d) 12
These unit-stresses are for a green condition of timber and are to be used without increasing the live load stresses for impact. l = Length in inches.
d = Least side in inches.
[Footnote b: Adopted, Vol. 1909, pp. 537, 564, 609-611.]
[Footnote c: Green timber in exposed work.]
[Footnote d: Partially air-dry]

BIBLIOGRAPHY


[Part I:] Some general works on mechanics, materials of construction, and testing of materials.

[Part II:] Publications and articles on the mechanical properties of wood, and timber testing.

[Part III:] Publications of the U.S. Government on the mechanical properties of wood, and timber testing.