Proposed New Specimen Size for Testing Plywood in Compression

Large compression specimens (7.5-inch wide by 15-inch long), recommended in ASTM D 3501-76, were used initially to obtain compressive strength and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of southern yellow pine plywood. The 1.5-inch thick specimens described for strength tests provided reasonable values of compressive strength. However, the recommended 1-inch thick specimens used for MOE tests did not give satisfactory results because of unusual compressive deformation on opposite faces. The unequal deformation was due to the defects and natural growth characteristics present in the construction grade plywood. In consequence; a new size plywood compressive specimen (2-inch thick by 2-inch wide by 8-inch long) is evaluated in this study for testing both compressive strength and MOE. Experimental evidence indicates that this size is suitable for plywood compressive tests. This specimen gave consistent results, and required no support frame during testing.

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