UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA

Faculty of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering

B. Sc. Engineering Degree – Semester 5

CE 3122 - DESIGN OF MASONRY AND TIMBER STRUCTURES

Time allowed: 3 Hours September 2020

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:

This paper contains 2 questions on 6 pages including a blank page.

This examination accounts for 60% of the module assessment.

This is an open book examination.

Use separate answer book for each question.

Answer both questions.

Both questions carry equal marks. (The maximum marks attainable for each part of the question
are indicated in square brackets.)
Assume reasonable values for any data not given in or with the examination paper. Clearly state
such assumptions made on the script.

If you have any doubt as to the interpretation of the wording of a question, make your own
decision, but clearly state it on the script.

Electronic/Communication devices are not permitted. Only equipment allowed is a calculator

approved and labelled by the Faculty of Engineering.

No sharing of information is permitted

 CE3122

This page is intentionally left blank

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 CE3122

QUESTION 1

The owner of a small seaside hotel has entrusted the structural design of a temporary elevated
timber structure to you. The purpose of this structure is to create additional space for the main
restaurant so as to maintain social distancing. He intends to demolish this structure within six
months.

The elevated floor of this additional space will consist of timber floor planks that will be
supported on timber beams. The beams are to be spaced at a distance of 750 mm. The timber
beams will be supported by short round timbers. Fig: 1.1 shows a typical timber floor beam that
supports the floor planks. The proposed distance between the supports is 3.2 m with an overhang
length of 0.8 m.

3.2 m 0.8 m
Fig: 1.1
The instantaneous maximum deflection of a timber floor plank of D60 timber of 200 mm width
and 20 mm thickness spanning a length of 750 mm was found to be 2.7 mm under design loads
on this floor at the serviceability condition.

Table 1.1 provides details of timber planks that are available with timber suppliers

a) Briefly explain whether each of the timbers A,B,C and D are either suitable or not suitable if
maximum deflection at serviceability should be within ‘0.003 of the span’ [10 marks]

Table 1.1 Details of timber planks available with timber suppliers

Description of timber A B C D
Timber Strength Group D60 D50 D50 D70
Thickness (mm) 20 20 25 20

b) Sketch the Bending Moment Diagram for the beam and indicate the distance in ‘m’ of the
point of contraflexure from the end support when both spans carry the same uniformly
distributed load [6 marks]

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 CE3122

c) Briefly explain whether there is a danger of lateral buckling and twisting of the floor beam
and where this would occur, if it is assumed that the floor boards provide lateral support to
the top level of the floor beam. Provide a sketch; No calculations are required . [3 marks]

It was intended to use a timber species that belongs to Group D60 for the timber beams. The
dimensions that are proposed are 50 mm x 150 mm. However, at the time of construction, it was
found that timber species belonging to D60 timber were only available in 3 m lengths. A bolted
splice connection consisting of a two M12 bolts on each piece of timber and 6 mm thick steel
side plates on either side as shown in Fig: 1.2 has been suggested.

Fig: 1.2
d) Determine the characteristic embedment strength of the timber [4 marks]

e) Determine the characteristic yield moment of the 12 mm bolt, it is has a characteristic

ultimate strength of 400 N/mm2 [4 marks]

f) Briefly explain whether the 6 mm thick steel gusset can be considered as a thin plate or thick
plate in this bolted timber splice joint [2 marks]

g) Determine the characteristic load carrying capacity per shear plane per bolt considering the
crushing failure of timber and the bending of the bolt in this timber joint. Identify which
mode of failure is critical. You may neglect the rope effect. [6 marks]

h) Show on a sketch how the bolted splice joint described in Fig: 1.2 could withstand a bending
moment [3 marks]

i) Determine the design moment of resistance of the bolted joint under the appropriate
conditions of service and duration of loading, if the spacing between bolts in the direction
perpendicular to the grain is 60 mm. [6 marks]

j) Briefly explain which of the two possible locations of the splice joint is more appropriate for
this timber beam of 4 m total length, considering that only 3 m lengths are available.
[3 marks]

k) Briefly explain whether instability in compression could occur if timber trunks of D50 timber
of approximately 200 mm diameter and effective height 1.0 m are used to support the timber
floor beams. Calculations have confirmed that the value of k c for round timber supports of
D50 timber of 200 mm diameter and effective height of 1.0 m is approximately unity.
[3 marks]

Total marks for Question 1 is 50 marks

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QUESTION 2

A three storey house has been constructed with load bearing masonry. In this, the slabs at first
and second floors directly rest on the masonry walls. One of the internal walls supports in-situ
cast one way spanning slabs on either side. The effective span of these slabs can be considered
as 3.2 m and 4.4 m. The length of the masonry wall is 4.9 m. The thickness of the floor slabs is
150 mm. The same slab arrangement has been used at both first and second floor levels. The
floor to floor clear height is 2.85 m.

At the second floor level, there is a 150 mm thick hollow block wall with an overall thickness of
180 mm with cement plaster on either side. This wall is used to support the roof structure. The
block wall has a total height of 4.0 m and the ridge of the cement fiber sheet roof rests on it. The
design load transferred from the roof on to the block wall can be considered as 5.0 kN/m.

The following data is given:

• The density of reinforced concrete can be taken as 25 kN/m3.
• The allowance for finishes of the slab = 0.75 kN/m2
• The live load acting on the slab = 1.5 kN/m2
• The self weight of masonry with standard format bricks = 22 kN/m3
• The self weight of hollow concrete block masonry = 12 kN/m3
• The density of cement plaster = 20 kN/m3
• Elastic modulus of concrete = 30,000 N/mm2

You are expected to design the masonry wall located between the ground and first floors
according to Eurocode 6.

a) It has been decided to use standard format bricks that can give a wall thickness of 220
mm for the wall considered. There will be a cement mortar based plaster of 15 mm on
either side giving a total thickness of 250 mm. Determine the slenderness ratio for the
masonry wall considered.
[3 marks]

b) Determine the design loads that can be transferred due to one way slabs at the second
floor level. Hence, determine the vertical design loads that can act from above at the first
floor level, mid height of ground floor wall and at the bottom of ground floor wall.
[5 marks]

c) Determine the out of balance moment that could act at the first floor level due to the
loads acting on the one way slabs. Hence, determine the moment that can be transferred
to the masonry wall at the first floor level.
[8 marks]

d) Determine the total eccentricity that can be considered at the top of the wall and at the
ground level.
[4 marks]

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e) What is the eccentricity at the mid height due to loads?

[3 marks]

f) Propose a suitable value for the partial factor of safety for material considering the
quality assurance that can be ensured in average site conditions of Sri Lanka.
[2 marks]

g) Determine the slenderness reduction factors at the top of the wall, bottom of the wall and
at the mid height. Hence, determine the characteristic strengths needed at the above three
locations.
[6 marks]

h) Based on the above results, determine a suitable strength for the bricks if mortar
designation M4 could be used for construction.
[3 marks]

i) If an opening of 0.9 m width and 2.4 m height is needed in this wall of 4.9 m of length at
the middle, determine the adequacy of the masonry units that you have already selected.
The opening is provided with a lintel having a bearing length of 450 mm.
[6 marks]

j) It is decided to use standard format bricks of 5 N/mm2 strength and Mortar designation
M4 for an external wall at ground level where the length of the panel can be considered
as 4.9 m due to the cross walls. The thickness of the wall is 220 mm.The permanent
vertical loads transferred can be taken as 42 kN/m. Check whether the wall can be
designed as a panel.
[3 marks]

k) Determine the adequacy of the masonry wall (panel) to resist a wind load of 0.85 kN/m2.
Clearly state the assumptions made.
[7 marks]

Total marks for Question 2 is 50 marks

End of paper

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