Strength and Elastic Properties of Wood in Transverse Compression

New developments in manufacturing and in nondestructive testing of wood have created a demand for information about the mechanical properties of wood in transverse compression. Specimen geometry and moisture content were found to have a large effect on mechanical properties of wood in compression. The study had two phases. In phase one, strength and elastic properties were determined with a load over the entire surface of the specimen. In phase two, specimens were tested with a load concentrated over the central portion of the surface as in the standard ASTM test. Deformation of the specimens was measured by a high-magnification electronic deflectometer. Load-deformation curves were recorded continuously on a XY strip-chart recorder. Nearly all strength and elastic properties were altered significantly by experimental variables of moisture content, thickness, and stressed area, in that order. The following inferences are made: The first load inflection point is one of the most important points on a compressive load-deformation curve because it designates initial failure in compression. Initial failure in radial compression begins when the weakest portion of rays located in the earlywood layer of a particular growth ring buckles.

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