Probabilistic procedure for design of untreated timber poles in-ground under attack of decay fungi

Based on first-order probability theory, this paper presents a probabilistic procedure for design of timber poles in ground contact under attack of decay fungi. Fungal attack prediction model developed in a multi-disciplinary national project in Australia, sponsored by the Forestry and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation, is used in this study for decay progress modelling. A durability design factor, kD, is derived and proposed for consideration in practical design of timber construction. Examples for computation of kD for untreated timber poles installed at two sites in Australia are given.