PREDICTION OF BEAM STIFFNESS FOR STRUCTURAL GLUED- LAMINATED TIMBER By ONG CHEE BENG Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies,, in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science May 2004
Dedicated to my mother. ii
Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science PREDICTION OF BEAM STIFFNESS FOR STRUCTURAL GLUED- LAMINATED TIMBER By ONG CHEE BENG May 2004 Chairman: Faculty: Wong Ee Ding, Ph.D. Forestry The objective of the study was made to develop a probabilistic model for predicting the statistical distribution of stiffness properties of some selected Malaysian timbers. In this respect, a three-step experimental approach was adopted before simulated beam stiffness for the species population was derived. Firstly, a number of probability functions representing the actual distribution of selected timber data were examined. Goodness-offit (GOF) analysis was then carried out to establish the best fitting distribution function for the experimental data used. Secondly, the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of solid and finger-jointed samples was obtained from non-destructive testing (NDT) using the fundamental vibration frequency methodology. Results from the above method were calibrated against those obtained through static bending test by means of Universal Testing Machine. Finally, glued-laminated timber (glulam) beams were fabricated using iii
laminations with predetermined MOEs by NDT method and the beams were later subjected to 3-point static bending test for MOE determination. In the mean time, finite element method (FEM) coupled with transformed section approach, was also used to simulate the glulam beam tests after experimental length effect was incorporated. The MOE of beams population was then predicted using randomly generated MOE and length data. The GOF analysis indicates that 3-parameter Weibull distribution best fit the probability distribution of the tested timber. Results from the NDT method also showed a good relationship between the fundamental vibration frequency test and the static bending test conducted with a coefficient of determination of about 0.89. In the simulation of glulam beams, the MOE values of simulated glulam beams are generally higher than the actual tests conducted, particularly in durian hutan, with a percentage difference of about 23%. In the prediction of the MOE glulam beams population, the generated distribution exhibits higher MOE values compared to the average value reported respectively for durian hutan and rubberwood species. iv
Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat sebagai memenuhi keperluan ijazah Master Sains FORMULASI KEANJALAN RASUK UNTUK KAYU GLULAM Oleh ONG CHEE BENG May 2004 Pengerusi: Fakulti: Wong Ee Ding, Ph.D. Perhutanan Kajian dilakukan untuk menghasilkan satu model kebarangkalian dalam menentukan taburan statistik ciri-ciri ketegangan bagi sesetengah kayu Malaysia yang terpilih. Dalam aspek ini, tiga aras kajian akan diketengahkan sebelum penentuan ketegangan rasuk satu populasi spesies melalui simulasi dijalankan. Pertama, beberapa fungsi taburan kebarangkalian akan disiasat bagi mewakili taburan sebenar data kayu yang dipilih. Ujian tahap kesesuaian (GOF) digunakan untuk menguji fungsi taburan yang paling tepat dan sesuai untuk mewakili taburan data eksperimental yang digunakan. Kedua, modulus kekenyalan (MOE) sampel kayu padu dan tanggam jari dikira dengan menggunakan ujian tanpa musnah (NDT) iaitu teknologi frequensi getaran. Keputusan tersebut dipiawaikan dengan keputusan yang diperolehi daripada teknik beban-mati menggunakan Universal Testing Machine. Akhirnya, rasuk glulam (glued-laminated) dihasilkan dengan menggunakan laminasi yang telah ditentukan MOE dan kemudiannya ujian lenturan 3- v
titik dijalankan ke atas rasuk tersebut. Pada masa yang sama FEM (Finite Element Method) bersama analisis transformed section juga digunakan untuk mengsimulasikan ujian rasuk glulam tersebut setelah keputusan eksperimen faktor panjang kayu dimasukkan. Akhirnya, MOE populasi rasuk diramal berdasarkan MOE dan data panjang kayu yang dijanakan secara rawak. Keputusan dalam analisis GOF menunjukkan bahawa taburan Weibull 3-parameter adalah paling sesuai dalam mewakili taburan kebarangkalian kayu-kayu yang diuji. Keputusan daripada ujian NDT juga menunjukkan hubungan yang rapat diantara ujian frekuensi getaran dengan ujian lenturan statik yang telah dijalankan dengan koeffisien sebanyak 0.89. Dalam simulasi ujian rasuk glulam, MOE rasuk glulam yang disimulasikan adalah lebih tinggi daripada ujian makmal yang dijalankan, terutama bagi spesies durian hutan dimana sebanyak 23 peratus perbezaan diperolehi. Dalam ramalan MOE populasi rasuk glulam, taburan yang dijana menunjukkan nilai MOE yang lebih tinggi daripada yang dilaporkan untuk kedua-dua spesies kayu getah dan juga durian hutan. vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am truly indebted to my supervisor, Dr. Tan Yu Eng, for his constant encouragement, guidance, providing invaluable advice and support throughout this research. I wish to express my heartiest gratitude to him for his patience, understanding and for sharing his precious time to commit to our discussion, research work and the development of this thesis. No doubt, the success of this thesis is due to his vision and commitment. I wish to thank Dr. Wong Ee Ding for her effort and willingness to help, providing excellent advice and her meticulous effort taken to refine my thesis. I also wish to express my gratitude to Prof. Abang Abdullah Abang Ali for spending time away from his busy schedule to discuss and providing excellent technical advice. Special thanks also to Dr. Sinin Hamdan for his support and encouragement to me in pursuing this research. Not forgetting all the staff of FRIM, especially En. Zamri Zainudin for helping during the material preparation and testing throughout this research. Their commitment and expertise is highly commendable and appreciated. vii
Finally, I wish to thank Forest Research Institute Malaysia for providing the research scholarship under Forest Research Institute Malaysia Research Assistantship program. viii
I certify that an Examination Committee met on 12 th May 2004 to conduct the final examination of Ong Chee Beng on his Master of Science thesis entitled Prediction of Beam Stiffness for Structural Glued-Laminated Timber in accordance with Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Act 1980 and Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Regulations 1981. The Committee recommends that the candidate be awarded the relevant degree. Members of the Examination Committee are as follows: Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam, Ph.D. Faculty of Forestry (Chairman) Mohd. Saleh Jaafar, Ph.D. Associate Professor Faculty of Engineering (Member) Paridah Md. Tahir, Ph.D. Associate Professor Faculty of Engineering (Member) Tomoyuki Hayashi, Ph.D. Laboratory of Engineered Wood & Joists Wood Technology Division Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute Ibaraki, Japan (Independent Examiner) GULAM RUSUL RAHMAT ALI, Ph.D. Professor/Deputy Dean School of Graduate Studies Date: ix
This thesis submitted to the Senate of and has been accepted as fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science. The members of the Supervisory Committee are as follows: Wong Ee Ding, Ph.D. Faculty of Forestry (Chairman) Tan Yu Eng, Ph.D. Products Development Division Forest Research Institute Malaysia (Member) Abang Abdullah Abang Ali, Ph.D. Professor Faculty of Engineering (Member) AINI IDERIS, Ph.D. Professor/Dean School of Graduate Studies _ Date: x
DECLARATION I hereby declare that the thesis is based on my original work except for quotations and citations which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently submitted for any other degree at UPM or other institutions. ONG CHEE BENG Date: xi
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION ABSTRACT ABSTRAK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT APPROVAL DECLARATION LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF NOTATIONS ii iii v vii viii x xiii xiv xvi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 1.1 General 1.2 Problem Statement 1.3 1.3 Research Objectives 1.6 1.4 Research Scope 1.5 Significance of Study 1.8 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 2.1 General 2.2 Mechanical Properties of Wood 2.3 Modulus of Elasticity 2.2 2.4 Reliability-based Concept 2.3 2.5 Goodness of Fit Analysis 2.5 2.5.1 General 2.5.2 Probability Distributions 2.6 2.5.3 Goodness of Fit Tests 2.7 2.6 Non-destructive Testing 2.8 2.6.1 Development and Applications 2.9 2.6.2 Fundamental Vibration Frequency Method 2.10 2.7 Finite Element Method 2.11 2.8 Effect of Length on Modulus of Elasticity 2.12 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS 3.1 xii
3.1 General 3.2 Phase I - Goodness of Fit Analysis 3.3 3.3 Phase II - Non-destructive Testing 3.4 3.3.1 Test Materials 3.5 3.3.2 Determination of MOE Based on Fundamental Vibration Frequency Method 3.3.3 Three-point Static Bending Test 3.8 3.4 Phase III - Comparison of Experimental and Simulated MOE of Glulam Beam 3.10 3.4.1 Fabrication of Glulam 3.4.2 Fabrication Methods 3.11 3.4.3 Beam Arrangement 3.14 3.5 Static Bending Test of Full Size Glulam Beam 3.6 Determination of MOE from Finite Element Method 3.17 3.6.1 Effect of Length on MOE 3.6.2 Two-dimensional FEM Model 3.19 3.7 Transformed Section Method 3.21 3.8 Formulation of Model to Predict Population of Beam Stiffness 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 4.1 4.1 General 4.2 Goodness of Fit Analysis 4.2 4.3 Non-destructive Testing 4.6 4.4 Full Size Glulam Beam Test 4.10 4.4.1 Static Bending Test of Individual Solid Sample 4.11 4.4.2 Fundamental Vibration Frequency 4.12 4.4.3 Static Bending Test of Full Size Beam 4.13 4.4.4 Effects of Timber Grade Arrangement 4.16 4.4.5 Length Effect on MOE 4.17 4.4.6 Comparison of Modulus of Elasticity 4.19 4.5 Prediction of MOE Distribution of Glulam Beam 4.22 5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 5.1 Conclusions 5.1.1 Goodness of Fit Study 5.1.2 Non-destructive Testing 5.1.3 Stiffness Modelling of Glulam Beams 5.2 5.2 Recommendations For Future Works 5.3 REFERENCES R.1 APPENDICES A.1 BIODATA OF THE AUTHOR B.1 xiii