Wood as a Structural Material: Properties, Systems, and Design

Resource Description

A structured undergraduate timber engineering course designed to introduce students to the fundamental material properties of wood and the principles of structural design with timber. Each module includes lecture slides, notes, and worked examples.

• Module 1 – Physical & Mechanical Properties of Wood.
  Covers density, moisture content, cellular structure, shrinkage, strength, stiffness, behavior under stress, test methods, failure modes, and modification factors.
• Module 2 – Structural Wood Products and Systems.
  Introduces sawn lumber, panel products, and engineered wood products (EWP) such as glulam, structural composite lumber, and CLT. Discusses applications and design considerations.
• Module 3 – Axially Loaded Members.
  Examines the behavior and design of tension members, compression members, and members subject to combined axial and bending forces, with examples.
• Module 4 – Bending Members.
  Focuses on the design of members subject to bending, including sawn lumber, glulam, composite beams, and CLT panels.
• Module 5 – Shearwalls and Diaphragms.
  Discusses lateral load resisting systems, vertical and horizontal bracing, load paths, and the design of light wood frame shearwall and diaphragm assemblies.
• Module 6 – Design of Connections.
  Introduces fasteners and connection systems, including nails, screws, bolts, dowels, glued-in rods, and proprietary connectors.

This 6-part course provides students with a solid grounding in timber engineering and can be integrated into structural design curricula at the undergraduate level.

Acknowledgments

Lead Authors

Usage and Citation Guidelines

These teaching materials were developed by university professors with funding support from the Canadian Wood Council. The content remains the intellectual property of the respective author(s) and is provided free of charge for teaching and educational purposes only. Any commercial use, redistribution, or modification outside of academic teaching is strictly prohibited.

When using these resources in any context that requires citation, please use the format below.

Author(s). (Year). Title of module [Teaching Module]. Funded and published by the Canadian Wood Council.

Course Curriculum