Scribd
Upload
55 views

LAB #5 Wood Tests Due:April 22/24/26, 2013 References

This document describes a laboratory experiment to test the mechanical properties of wood. Students will perform compression tests on wood specimens parallel and perpendicular to the grain to determine properties like compressive strength and modulus of elasticity. They will also conduct a three-point bending test to calculate the proportional limit stress, ultimate stress, and modulus of elasticity of wood. Students are required to create stress-strain plots from the test data and discuss the effects of moisture on wood properties in their report.

Uploaded by

Juan Villa
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
55 views

LAB #5 Wood Tests Due:April 22/24/26, 2013 References

This document describes a laboratory experiment to test the mechanical properties of wood. Students will perform compression tests on wood specimens parallel and perpendicular to the grain to determine properties like compressive strength and modulus of elasticity. They will also conduct a three-point bending test to calculate the proportional limit stress, ultimate stress, and modulus of elasticity of wood. Students are required to create stress-strain plots from the test data and discuss the effects of moisture on wood properties in their report.

Uploaded by

Juan Villa
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

University of Rhode Island

Civil and Environmental Engineering


CVE 230 Mechanics of Materials Laboratory


LAB #5
Wood Tests

Due:April 22/24/26, 2013

References:
ASTM D143, Standard Methods of Testing Small Clear Specimens of Timber, Vol. 4.10.

Objective:
In this lab, the behavior of wood under axial compression parallel to and perpendicular to the
grain will be evaluated for the determination of certain mechanical properties of wood. The
effect of moisture on the mechanical properties of wood will also be evaluated. Finally the
modulus of rupture and failure under bending will be studied.

Specimens:

Clear wood specimens from ponderosa pine or douglas fir as provided.

Compression parallel to grain
1. Select two 2" x 2" x 8" specimens (one dry and one wet) for the parallel to the grain test.
2. Record any significant defects in the specimens.
3. Measure cross sectional area and length.
4. Start Navigator software and ensure that data are store on file.
5. Verify load application speed of 0.02 inches/minute (currently the Tinius Olsen machine
does not support this feature).
6. Place the first specimen in the machine and apply a small holding load (under 100lb).
7. Zero the loadand the position in the Tinius Olsen SR-2 controller.
8. Apply load.
9. Continue loading until a peak load is reached or, if no peak is reached, until the load
approaches a constant value.
10. Repeat to test the wet specimen. May want to change the name of the file where the
data are stored.

Compression perpendicular to grain
Repeat the previous procedure but use the new specimen.
Bending Test:
1. Record any significant defects in the specimen.
2. Measure cross sectional area.
3. Verify load application speed of 0.02 inches/minute (currently the Tinius Olsen machine
does not support this feature).
4. Place the specimen in the machine, measure the span and apply a small holding load
(under 50lb).
5. Zero the loadand the position in the Tinius Olsen SR-2 controller.
6. Apply the load slowly.
7. Continue loading until failure of the beam.

Report:
The format of the report should follow that of the example report provided on Sakai under the
syllabus section (cover page, introduction, materials and methods, results and discussion,
conclusions).

The report should include a description of the materials, apparatus, and testing procedure.
Provide the stress-strain plots for all specimens tested. There should be three plots, two for
compression parallel to grain (wet and dry) and one for compression perpendicular to grain.
The plots should be made in excel. Also, include the input data i.e. the load vs. deformation
and stress vs. strain values used to create the plots.

Provide the maximum compressive stress parallel to grain and the modulus of elasticity for
compression parallel to grain for both the dry and wet specimens.

Provide the maximum compressive stress and the modulus of elasticity for compression
perpendicular to grain.

Compare the effect of compressing perpendicular to grains versus compressing parallel to
grains.

For the bending test plot the load-deflection curve of the beam (excel) and calculate the
proportional limit stress at outer fiber, ultimate stress at outer fiber and modulus of elasticity.


BENDING OF WOOD.

For a simply supported beam of span L and with a concentrated load P applied at the center of
the span, the maximum deflection, which occurs at the center of the span, is determined by the
equation
EI
PL
48
3
= A

L= 18 ; A= 2x2; P = 5.05 (choosen from table) A = 0.000577 inch
(1)
) 12 / ) 3 ^ 2 * 2 (( 48
) 18 )( 05 . 5 (
00577 . 0
3
E
=
E = 461

in which E is the modulus of elasticity and I is the moment of inertia of the section with
respect to its centroidal x-axis. Solving the equation for E yields:
A
=
I
PL
E
48
3
(2)

By loading a sample beam of the above description and simultaneously recording values
of the concentrated load (P
elastic portion of this load-deflection curve is simply a stiffness value (k). Rearranging
Equation 2 above, one can represent this stiffness as follows:

3
48
L
EI P
k =
A
= (3)

This stiffness value can be ascertained by experiment as the slope of the load-deflection curve
up to the proportional limit. With this stiffness known, the modulus of elasticity can then be
determined as follows by rearranging Equation 3 and solving for E, i.e,

I
kL
E
48
3
= (4)

whereL and I are measured properties of the beam. The computed value of E should be
approximately equal to the value determined from the investigation of loads parallel to the
grain of short wood compression blocks (assuming the same wood is used).

The bending stress of at the outer fibers is determined by the equation:


2
3 2
3
12
1
2 4
bh
PL
bh
h PL
I
Mc
=
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
= = o stress/E = strain (5)
The plot of load and deflection provides the proportional limit and ultimate load. Substitution
of these loads into Equation 5 will yield the proportional limit stress and the ultimate stress.

You might also like