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AustraliaAS 1720.1:2010 (Amdt 3)

Timber Column

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(Note: The New Zealand Timber Column module also refers to this article. While New Zealand uses a different standard - NZS 3603:1993 - it is substantially similar to the Australian standard, and so this article is almost entirely applicable)
The Calcs.com Timber Column Calculator allows users to design timber columns by specifying the desired load cases and dimensions of the column. In this article, each section of the calculator will be explained followed by a few worked examples. The Timber Column Calculator has 4 main sections
  1. Key Properties
  2. Design Criteria
  3. Loads
  4. Summary and Graphs

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Worked example

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Task 1

Design a timber stud with the following characteristics
  • for residential application
  • 4m in height with noggings (along the minor axis) every 1m
  • member type: 150x50 F4 White Cypress
  • fixed base and a roller support at the top
  • an axial load at the top: 5kN/m dead load and 8.3kN/m live load with 600mm stud spacing
  • assume zero eccentricity
  • include self-weight

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Method & scope

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Design Criteria

Deflection Limit Absolute Criterion: This is the hard maximum deflection allowed for the column, regardless of span length, and applied to all load cases. Extension Limit Absolute Criterion: This is the hard maximum extension allowed for the column.

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Method

Summary & Graphs Access the full PDF file here: Task 1
Task 2
Design a timber column with the following characteristics
  • for residential application
  • 5m in height and discrete restraints halfway at the compression edge along the minor axis
  • fixed support at the bottom and roller support at the top
  • 2 laminates
  • Assume default load eccentricity to be equal to be the face of the member
  • Axial load at the top of 5kN each of dead load and live load
  • A laterally distributed wind load of 10kPa from top to bottom of the column (load width 100mm)
  • include self-weight
  • select an F5 grade unseasoned White Cypress Member that meets the design demands
Method
Summary & Graphs Access the full PDF file here: Task 2

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See the exact clause

Every check in this calculator links back to its governing clause in AS 1720.1:2010. Open the Formula Reference panel on any result and select the clause reference to read it. See Viewing Clauses from Inside a Calculator.

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About this calculator

The Calcs.com timber column calculator to AS 1720.1:2010 enables the fast and accurate design of timber columns and studs to Australian standards. With support for dynamic load linking between beams and columns, easily design accurate and quality engineered columns, and select from our database of thousands of Australian timber sections.

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How to use it

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Key Properties

A. Member TypeCalcs.com gives the user the opportunity to use a custom member size if they wish. If ‘no’ is selected for the use of custom members, the user is provided with a drop-down list industry-standard size members from which a member can be selected.Alternatively, the member selector and autosize functions (circled in red in the above diagram) can also be used to select a member.B. Number of Members in Group/LaminateThe number of timber laminates in the column. This quantity needs to be either equal to or greater than 1.C. Total Column HeightThe total height of the column needs to be given In millimeters (mm).D. Minor Axis Lateral Restraint TypeA drop-down menu is provided to specify the type of lateral restraint present along the minor axis of the column.E. Minor Axis Effective Length for BucklingIf a discrete lateral restraint type is present along the minor axis of the column, the calculator will ask for the effective length along the minor axis. This is the greatest distance between two subsequent lateral restraints and it must be specified in millimeters (mm).F. Major Axis Lateral Restraint TypeA drop-down menu is provided to specify the type of lateral restraint present along the major axis of the column. If ‘discrete’ lateral restraints are used, the calculator will prompt the user to enter the major axis effective length for buckling in millimeters (mm).G. Position of Supports From BottomThis section prompts the user to select the support type from a drop-down menu and then specify the location of each support in millimeters(mm) as measured from the bottom of the column.
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Loads

A. Axial, Point & Moment LoadsTo enter an axial, point or moment load, one needs to fill out the above table. The first column refers to the name of the load, which can be decided by the user. Then the location at which the load acts on the column as measured from the bottom of the column (in millimeters) needs to be entered. The third column refers to the axial eccentricity of the load; this is set according to the “Default Axial Load Eccentricity” by default. Axial eccentricity will be discussed in detail in part C of this section. When one clicks on the fourth column the following table will appear.In this table, the user can select the load type from the drop-down menu shown, and specify the magnitude of the load in the x and y directions in kilo Newtons(kN) and enter any moment loads in kilo Newton Meters(kNm).B. Lateral Distributed LoadsThis table is applicable to distributed loads that act in the x-direction (i.e. perpendicular to the column). Similar to the Point Loads table, the first column of the lateral distributed loads table prompts the user to name the load. Then the start and end location of the distributed load must be specified, as measured from the bottom of the column. Then the start and end width of the load must be entered in millimeters(mm). To enter the load magnitudes, the following table must be filled out.The load type must be selected from the drop-down menu in the first column, then the load magnitude must be specified per area in units of kilo Pascals(kPa).C. Default Axial Load EccentricityWhat is Axial Load Eccentricity?Generally, axial loads (i.e. loads acting vertically downwards) act through the center of a column. However, in some cases, the load can act off the center of the column and cause bending in addition to compression of the column. Axial load eccentricity refers to the horizontal distance between the center of the column and the line of action of the axial load.Axial Load Eccentricity Options in Calcs.com
  • ‘Face’ assumes default eccentricity to be the face of the member plus a 100mm
  • ‘Capped’ assumes default eccentricity to be equal to the face of the member
  • ‘Pure Compression’ assumes zero eccentricity. The calculator is set to pure compression by default.
  • ‘Custom’ allows the user to specify the default eccentricity as needed.
D. Include Self-WeightThe user can choose whether or not they include the self-weight of the column in their calculations. The calculator is set to include the self-weight by default unless the user specifies otherwise.E. Character of Imposed LoadThe character of imposed loads that is most applicable to the applied imposed loads (live loads) on the column can be selected from this drop-down menu.
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Summary & Graphs

The summary section the key parameters of your calculation will be outlined.In the graphs section, the user can select whether or not they include the load duration factor k1 in the plots and select the load case that they would like the see in their graph (e.g.: 1.2G 1.5Q). The user can also specify whether they want the axial compression capacity graphed on the plot.A sample of the summary and graphs produced during calculations can be seen in the examples given below.

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AU Timber Column: Overview

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AU Timber Column: Example

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Available presets

Each preset opens the calculator with a typical setup already entered.

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Common questions

This calculator designs timber columns and studs to AS 1720.1:2010 Amendment 3, the Australian Standard for Timber Structures. It uses Limit State Design (LSD) principles with stability factors applied per AS 1720.1 Section 3 for combined compression and bending.
Key inputs include column height, effective length factors for both axes, section type (from the Australian timber section database or custom), number of plies, load cases, and service conditions such as moisture content and temperature. Dynamic load linking from beam calculators is supported to reduce manual data entry.
The calculator provides utilization checks for axial compression (N*/phiNd), biaxial bending (M*/phiMd), and combined bending and axial loads per AS 1720.1. Stability factors k12 and k8 are calculated automatically based on slenderness and moisture conditions. All checks are expressed as demand-to-capacity ratios where 1.0 or less indicates adequate capacity.
Yes. The calculator handles both isolated post and column configurations and stud wall applications. For stud walls, set the effective length based on wall height and boundary conditions, and check a representative stud under combined gravity and lateral load.
Select the species group from the dropdown, the calculator draws characteristic strength values (fc’, fb’, fv’) from the AS 1720.1:2010 Supplement tables for the selected species group and seasoning condition. For unseasoned (green) timber, a 3mm reduction is applied to each cross-section dimension before section properties are calculated.
Yes, column axial load links directly from connected beam reaction outputs, and the column base reaction can link downstream to a footing or base plate calculation. Changes propagate automatically across the full load path so adjusting a beam span or load updates every linked calculation without manual re-entry.