Strength of Structural Wood

Presenter

Cristian Bueno Campos

Campus

Fitchburg State University

Sponsor

Soumitra Basu, Department of Engineering Technology, Fitchburg State University

Schedule

Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A72, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 4 (A61-A80) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

• Abstract:
  Wood is a widely used structural material in North Central Massachusetts. The load-bearing ability of various types of wood is variable and affects how and where they can be used as a structural element.
  Of the many variables that affect the strength of store-bought wood, the grain direction is one that can be visually estimated. Thus, while using wood to support structural loads in compression, the one factor over which there is some control is the orientation of wood members. Other shorter pieces of wood may support large loads where the grains are transverse.
  
  The study measures the compressive strength of wood samples obtained from a distributor and has the following parts:

• Research available literature on the compressive strength of commonly used soft wood in Massachusetts.

• Examine typical stress strain curves.

• Carry out a compressive strength test on a universal testing machine

• Document the findings and relate the data to stress strain relationships of wood from literature

• Carry out a statistical analysis to identify and quantify deviation from the mean values

• Fit probability distribution curves to the data and compute the probabilities of different compressive strength regions

 
This is a snapshot view, valid for the samples obtained at a certain time and location. The results provide an insight into the extent of variation of compressive strengths estimated by the onset of visible cracking of the wood sample.
A statistical analysis of the data, will lead to an understanding of the probabilities associated with various ranges of compressive strength of store bought wood.

Keywords

Structural Wood, Strength of Material, Compression, Renewable Resource, Sustainability

Research Area

Engineering

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