1 SCOPE
1.1 This Code (Part 6/Subsection 3A) covers the general principles involved in the design of structural timber in buildings, including elements of structures connected together by fasteners/fastening techniques.
1.2 This shall not be interpreted to prevent the use of material or methods of design or construction not specifically mentioned herein; and the methods of design may be based on analytical and engineering principles, or reliable test data, or both, that demonstrate the safety and serviceability of the resulting structure. The classification of timber into strength groups should not be interpreted as preventing the use of design data desired for a particular timber or grade of timber on the basis of reliable tests.
2 TERMINOLOGY
For the purpose of this Subsection, the following definitions shall apply, and for other terms those given in the accepted standard [6-3A(1)] shall apply.
2.1 Structural Purpose Definitions
2.1.1 Beam, Built-Up Laminated — A beam made by joining layers of timber together with mechanical fastenings, so that the grain of all layers is essentially parallel.
2.1.2 Beam, Glued-Laminated — A beam made by bonding layers of veneers or timber with an adhesive, so that grain of all laminations is essentially parallel.
2.1.3 Bressummer — A beam, across broad opening, sustaining super structure.
2.1.4 Diaphragm, Structural — A structural element of large extent placed in a building as a wall, or roof, and made use of to resist horizontal forces such as wind or earthquakes-acting parallel to its own plane.
2.1.5 Duration of Load — Period during which a member or a complete structure is stressed as a consequence of the loads applied.
NOTE — Timber is stronger under loads of brief duration than under permanently applied loads.
2.1.6 Edge Distance — The distance measured perpendicular to grain from the centre of the connector to the edge of the member.
2.1.7 End Distance — The distance measured parallel to grain of the member from the centre of the connector to the closest end of timber.
2.1.8 Finger Joint — End joint formed by machining a number of similar, tapered, symmetrical fingers in the ends of timber member, which are then bonded together.
2.1.9 Finger Jointed Timber — Timber containing adhesively bonded finger joints spaced at manufacturers specified minimum spacing.
2.1.10 Fundamental or Ultimate Stress — The stress which is determined on small clear specimen of timber, in accordance with accepted standards [6-3A(2)]; and does not take into account the effect of naturally occurring characteristics and other factors.
2.1.11 Glue — A substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment.
2.1.12 Glued Laminated (Glulam) — A wood structural element comprising of sawn wood lamination bonded together with adhesives and in which the grains of all laminations are parallel longitudinally.
2.1.12.1 Glued laminated, horizontally — Glued laminated timber where gluing planes are perpendicular to the largest dimension of the transverse section, that is, in cross-wise direction.
2.1.12.2 Glued laminated, vertically — Glued laminated timber where gluing planes are perpendicular to the smallest dimension of the transverse section.
2.1.13 Inside Location — Position in buildings in which timber remains continuously dry or protected from weather.
2.1.14 Isoptera — An order of social insects consisting of the termites.
2.1.15 Lamella Roof— A roof or frame, made up of relatively short members, called lamellas, forming a network of framing timbers. This network forms a barrel-like structure of mutually braced and stiffened units, arching over the building between supports, and together with the sheathing forms a diaphragm for resistance of vertical and lateral loads.
2.2 Definitions of Defects in Timber
2.2.1 Check — A separation of fibres extending along the grain which is confined to one face of a piece of wood.
2.2.2 Compression Wood — Abnormal wood which is formed on the lower sides of branches and inclined stems of coniferous trees. It is darker and harder than normal wood but relatively low in strength for its weight. It can be usually identified by wide eccentric growth rings with abnormally high proportion of growth latewood.
2.2.3 Dead Knot — A knot in which the layers of annual growth are not completely intergrown with those of the adjacent wood. It is surrounded by pitch or bark. The encasement may be partial or complete.
2.2.4 Decay or Rot — Disintegration of wood tissue caused by fungi (wood destroying) or other microorganisms.
2.2.5 Decayed Knot — A knot softer than the surrounding wood and containing decay.
2.2.6 Diameter of Knot — The maximum distance between the two points farthest apart on the periphery of a round knot, on the face on which it becomes visible. In the case of a spike or a splay knot, the maximum width of the knot visible on the face on which it appears shall be taken as its diameter.
2.2.7 Discolouration — A change from the normal colour of the wood which does not impair the strength of the wood.
2.2.8 Knot — A branch base or limb embedded in the tree or timber by natural growth.
2.2.9 Knot Hole — A hole left as a result of the removal of a knot.
2.2.10 Live Knot — A knot free from decay and other defects, in which the fibres are firmly intergrown with those of the surrounding wood. Syn. ‘Intergrown Knot’; cf. ‘Dead Knot’.
2.2.11 Loose Grain (Loosened Grain) — A defect on a flat sawn surface caused by the separation or raising of wood fibres along the growth rings; cf. ‘Raised Grain’.
2.2.12 Loose Knot — A knot that is not held firmly in place by growth or position, and that cannot be relied upon to remain in place; cf. ‘Tight Knot’.
2.2.13 Mould — A soft vegetative growth that forms on wood in damp, stagnant atmosphere. It is the least harmful type of fungus, usually confined to the surface of the wood.
2.2.14 Pitch Pocket — Accumulation of resin between growth rings of coniferous wood as seen on the cross-section.
2.2.15 Sap Stain — Discolouration of the sapwood mainly due to fungi.
2.2.16 Sapwood — The outer layer of log, which in the growing tree contain living cells and food material. The sapwood is usually lighter in colour and is readily attacked by insects and fungi.
2.2.17 Shake — A partial or complete separation between adjoining layers of tissues as seen in end surfaces.
2.2.18 Slope of Grain — The inclination of the fibres to the longitudinal axis of the member.
2.2.19 Sound Knot — A tight knot free from decay, which is solid across its face, and at least as hard as the surrounding wood.