Effect of Lamination Thickness on Strength of Curved Laminated Beams

The project was conducted in two phases: 1) the determination of proportional limit and rupture radii for individual white oak boards, and 2) the fabrication and strength testing of laminated beams to study the effect of thickness-curvature relationships, on the basis of information obtained under phase 1. Tests were made on 20 beams approximately 6 by 6 inches in cross-section to determine the effect of lamination thickness and grain orientation (flat and vertical) on the strength of curved and straight laminated beams made up of clear, straight-grained white oak. The tests showed that the strength of straight white oak laminates is not significantly affected by individual lamination thickness. Also, lamination thicknesses ranging from 1/4 to 3/4 inch have no significant effect on the strength of white oak beams laminated to curvatures no sharper than 72 inches, when loads are applied in a general radial direction to the convex faces of the beams.

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