Wood Post Design Software

Quick start

1. Add a Wood Post calculation and enter a descriptive member name.
2. Select ASD or LRFD, the nominal section, species, and grade. Enter the post height in feet.
3. Enter intermediate bracing where present and select Strong or Weak for each brace.
4. Review the compression and E_min adjustment factors.
5. Open Loads and Combinations. Enter vertical loads, choose whether to include self-weight, and review the enabled combinations.
6. If another wood post supplies loads, use Link Wood Loads.
7. Click Run Model, review the governing result and detailed calculations, then create the report.

Member information

The shape selection supplies the nominal size and actual dimensions. Species and grade determine the reference design values from the wood catalog. Available grades depend on the selected size class.

The module classifies nominal 5 × 5 and larger sections as Posts and Timbers when the width is not more than 2 inches greater than the thickness, and as Beams and Stringers when that difference exceeds 2 inches. Smaller sections use Dimension lumber.

Bracing and stability

Enter brace elevations in feet, strictly between the member ends, and select the restrained direction. The Strong and Weak controls become available while their location box is active or contains a number. An empty row clears and disables after focus leaves it.

The longest unbraced segment in each direction determines kl/b and kl/d. The larger slenderness governs. The module stops the calculation when the slenderness exceeds 50.

Adjustment factors

Review moisture, temperature, and incising conditions. Moisture selections are synchronized across the compression and E_min factors. Timber incising factors are 1.0.

For ASD, choose C_d; it applies to enabled design combinations. For LRFD, the module uses the applicable format conversion, resistance, and time-effect factors. Size adjustment comes from the section and grade.

The detailed output shows adjusted E′_min, F_cE, F*_c, C_p, F′_c, and axial capacity.

Loads and combinations

Enter positive downward vertical point loads in pounds and assign their load categories. Manual load entries use whole numbers. Choose the combinations to include in the design; the report lists enabled combinations.

Include self-weight adds the post weight as Dead load using actual section area, height, and the catalog specific gravity: unit weight = G × 62.4 lb/ft³. Transferred loads retain calculation precision even though displayed loads use whole pounds.

Linking wood loads

1. In the receiving post, open Loads and Combinations → Link Wood Loads.
2. Select the wood posts that supply loads to this member.
3. Choose Save Links. Individual load categories cannot be selected for transfer.
4. Click Run Model on the receiving member. Sources without current results calculate automatically first.

All active source service-load categories transfer at 1.0, including included source self-weight and loads that the source itself receives. The receiving member applies its own ASD or LRFD combinations.

A wood post can both receive and supply loads. Links are saved with the project using permanent member identities, so renaming a member does not break its links. Uncheck a source in the link window to remove the connection.

Load linking currently supports Wood Post members only.

Results and calculation status

Calculated means Run Model completed for the current inputs. Not calculated means the model has not run successfully for those inputs, or an engineering input or linked source has changed.

Calculation status is separate from both the pass/fail result and whether the project has unsaved changes. A completed calculation can still show an inadequate member.

The summary identifies the governing load combination, axial demand, available capacity, and stress ratio. Review the detailed calculations for the factors and governing stability calculation. Summary and calculation text can be selected and copied.

Changing report options changes what is displayed in the report and does not invalidate an already calculated result.

Reports and PDF files

Run the model before printing. Use Report Options to choose the optional Column Stability and Compression Factors details; the main member, results, loads, and combination sections always print.

The report includes loading information, the loading diagram, enabled design combinations, and design and unfactored reactions. Wood Post has no V, M, or Δ diagrams.

Use the Create PDF file checkbox with the print workflow. The suggested PDF filename uses the member name shown in Project Explorer.