CVG 2141

Civil Engineering Materials

Wood Tests

Willian Bogorni Mossmann

7997643

Lab Date: November 17th, 2015

Report Date: December 1st, 2015
TA: Benot Pelletier
Lab Group: Tuesday, D1
Abstract:

In this lab experiment the mechanical properties of spruce wood specimens were
determined. Five specimens were submitted to different tests. Two were tested for
compression, one in parallel to the grain and the other perpendicular to it. One specimen
was submitted to bending. The other two left were tested for tension, one in parallel to the
grain and the other perpendicular to it. The tests gave the loads and the respective
deformations for each one of them. Finally, the mode of failure of the specimens will be
compared with the ones shown in the laboratory manual.

Table of Contents:
List
of
Tables/Figures
.4
Objective
.5
Theoretical Background .
.5
Materials
and
Equipment.5
Experimental
Procedure...6
Analysis
of
Data...7
Discussion
of
Results.11
Conclusion
and
Recommendations....11
References
.12

List of Tables/Figures:
Figure 1: Flexure test
Table 1: Wood test results
Figure 2: Compression Parallel Stress-strain curve
Figure 3: Compression Parallel Stress-strain curve
Figure 4: Tension Parallel Stress-strain curve
Figure 5: Tension Parallel Stress-strain curve
Figure 6: Bending Test force-displacement curve
Figure 7: Bending Test force-displacement curve

Objective:
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the tensile strength and compressive
strength of woods in parallel and perpendicular to the grain. Additionally, it will also be
determined the Modulus of Rupture and Flexural behavior of wood.
Theoretical Background:
In the area of Civil Engineering, one of the most used materials is wood. Used in
many kinds of constructions, wood has a great importance in the area; therefore it has to be
studied to know if it is safe and economic to be used in a required construction.
Wood has a great thermal characteristic that is it can preserve more heat inside it
structure compared to other kinds of materials. But, in civil engineering that is not enough
to use it as a material. So, the mechanical properties such compression strength, Modulus of
Elasticity and shear strength of wood have to be studied to make sure that a wood can be
used to a determined construction.
Equation 1:
Mc
=
I
Where is the modulus of rupture, M is the bending moment, c is the distance from
the neutral axis to the edge and I is the moment of Inertia.
Equation 2:
P
( ) L3

E=
48 I
Where is the maximum shearing stress, V is the maximum shear force at mid
spam and A is the cross-sectional area of the beam.
Materials and Equipment:
-

Five spruce wood specimens

Compression and tension test machine
Micrometer calipers
Gauge marker
Extensometers
Strain scale

Experimental Procedure:
1. The kind of wood used is specified
2. All the wood specimens are assigned to a specific kind of test
3. Submit two specimens with almost the same dimensions to a compressive test. One
tested in parallel to the force and the other perpendicular to the force.
4. Submit two specimens to a tensile test. One specimen in a plate format to be tested
in parallel to the force, and a specimen with the edges in a grip format to be tested
perpendicular to the force.
5. Submit a specimen with dimensions higher than the others to a flexure test.
6. Observe the mode of failure of the specimens.
7. Record the maximum load of each one of the tests.
Figure 1: Flexure test

Analysis of Data:
Tension
Compressio Compressi
Tension//
T
n//
on T
Bending
6.74
25.92
36.2
35.59
36.54
24.77
55.58
36.04
34.75
36.13
609 x
204
203
912
1440.63
166.9498
36
1304.648 1236.7525
1320.1902

W(mm)
t(mm)
L(mm)
Area
(mm2)
P(failure)
N
2659
Type of
Wedge
Failure
split
Stress t
15.92694
(Mpa)
331
E(Gpa)
41.69
Table 1: Wood test results

x
Crushin
g
x
x

63987 x
splitting
splitting
49.045413
02 x
2.4 x

1969
Compression and
shearing
x
0.13

Figure 2: Compression Parallel Stress-strain curve

Compretion Parallel
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
-1.5

-1

-0.5

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

Figure 3: Compression Parallel

Figure 4: Tension Parallel Stress-strain curve

Tension Parallel
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

-0.5

Figure 5: Tension Parallel

Figure 6: Bending Test force-displacement curve

Bending test
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0

10

12

14

16

18

20

-0.5

Figure 7: Bending Test

Calculations:
The values of I, c and M were calculated using the following formulas:
I=

b h3
=143612.15 mm4
12

1
c= h=18.065 mm
2
PL
M = =370172 N . mm
4
The value of the Modulus of Rupture of the bending test was calculated with the
following formula:
=

Mc 370172 x 18,065
=
=46.56 MPa
I
143612.15

10

The Modulus of Elasticity for the Bending test was calculated with the following
formula:
3

3
( P / ) L
1969 x 752
E=
=
=0.13GPa
48 I
48 x 143612.15

Discussion of Results:
The modes of failure found in this experiment were Wedge Split for the tension
parallel to the grain test, crushing for the tension perpendicular, splitting for both
compression, and compression and shearing for the bending test. These results show that
the wood has not a great plastic limit and it tends to brake in the same place as the load was
applied, especially in the bending test. The compression test show that it resists at first but
after the first cracks the wood tends to rupture in the same spot as the force as well.
The graphics of the stress-strain curves show that the wood specimen in the
experiment resists better to compression than tension. However, is important to remember a
knot in the specimen used in the parallel tension test. The results show that in the tension
test the wood suffer four times more strain than in the compression test. In the compression
test the strain stops at 0.03 approximately; in the other hand, the strain stops after 0.015 in
the tension test. The stress supported in the compression test is almost 49 MPa, while in the
tension test its just 15.9 MPa.
In the bending test, the wood supported the maximum load of 1969 N, and then it
collapsed. The maximum load supported in the bending test it is not as high as the ones in
the compression tests. The maximum load in the compression test is 63987 N.

Conclusions and Recommendations:

In can be concluded in this experiment that the spruce specimens are way better
dealing with compression than with tension. The specimen resists a several times stronger
compression force comparing to the other kinds of force tested. It can be observed that none
of the Modulus of Elasticity calculated have a similar values to the other values calculated.
The higher one was found in the bending test. It can also be observed that either in
compression or in tension the cedar doesnt have a significant plastic zone, so after the first
considerable deformation the wood tents to collapse.

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References:
CVG 3109 Guide for Writing Laboratory Reports,University of Ottawa, 2013, p.2 21
Alaa Abdulridha CVG 2141 Class Notes,University of Ottawa, 2014

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