analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
(OP)
Hi all,
I am in the market for a wood design application. One particular feature I am looking for is a module that will allow the analysis or design of wood purlins, deck planks, and stair treads. These are commonly installed flat so that the members are primarily acting as beams loaded in the weak axis.
I have checked several popular wood design applications and even some that allow the definition of custom sections do not allow the beam to be specified with a width greater than the depth.
Thanks in advance.
I am in the market for a wood design application. One particular feature I am looking for is a module that will allow the analysis or design of wood purlins, deck planks, and stair treads. These are commonly installed flat so that the members are primarily acting as beams loaded in the weak axis.
I have checked several popular wood design applications and even some that allow the definition of custom sections do not allow the beam to be specified with a width greater than the depth.
Thanks in advance.






RE: analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
RE: analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
RE: analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
Even easier, do some standard calcs kept in a folder ready to put a copy in your calcs - viola!
RE: analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
I designed a deck once when I first started out as an EI, a walkway structure like you see at every nature park... Did all kinds of fancy calcs, etc., then I think the carpenter just did 16" oc like he always did to keep the "bounce" to a minimum. <shrug>
RE: analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
Also I think that in litigation hand calculations attract more attention.
RE: analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
RE: analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
RE: analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
That said, if you want to check weak axis bending you need to remember how wood members are graded. They are usually graded for "normal" orientation with knots running from wide-face to wide-face as much as possible. If you turn one of these on it's side and have moderate sized knots it's easy to see the effective section properties won't be what you would assume.
As for commercial software, it might be worthwhile to ask how they handled this problem. Having a seperate table for members graded as DECKING is probably the only way this can be realistically handled. THEN, you need to make this distinction on your drawings.
RE: analysis of wood beams in weak axis bending
This is really too easy to even bother with sofware unless you need to do it about 12 times a day.
If so - then just a simple span spreadsheet....