LAB 6

COMPRESSION TESTING OF WOOD

The goal of this lab is to help provide better understanding of the properties of
wood. Four samples will be tested; two for compressive strength with the load
parallel to the grains and two with the load perpendicular to the grains. This will
enable the calculations of the modulus of elasticity and the maximum strength
under compression for both loading parallel and perpendicular to the grain. The
influence of grain direction and wood type, as well as failure mechanism can be
identified.

1.0 Introduction
Introduce the subject in the report and state briefly the purpose and usefulness of
the study.
Briefly introduce the type of wood (i.e. Oak is a kind of hard wood, pine is a kind
of soft wood), the type of tests

2.0 Testing Procedure

2.1

Details of the samples

Briefly introduce the type of wood (i.e. Oak is a kind of hard wood, pine is a kind
of soft wood).

Mention briefly what differences can be seen between the

properties of the hard and soft woods (density, surface hardness, etc.).

2.2

Specimen geometry
Table 1: Specimen Dimensions

Wood
Name

Test Type

Thickness
(mm)

Width
(mm)

Length
(mm)

Compression
Parallel to
Grain
Oak
Compression
Perpendicular
to Grain

Pine

Compression
Parallel to
Grain
Compression
Perpendicular
to Grain

2.3

Detail of testing equipment

Briefly describe the testing equipment & procedure. Photographs or a schematic

of the test equipment may aid your description.

3.0 Measured data

Describe what constitutes failure for wood under compressive testing. What is
the nature of the failure?
Mention briefly what differences can be seen between the mechanical properties
of the hard and soft woods.

Table 2: Failure Loads

Wood
Name

Test Type

Failure
Load (kN)

Compression
Parallel to
Grains
Oak
Compression
Perpendicular
to Grains

Pine

Compression
Parallel to
Grains
Compression
Perpendicular
to Grains

4.0 Discussion
Strength is the defined as:

max =

P
A

(Equation 1)

Where P is the peak load and A is the cross sectional area of the block.
Strain is defined as:

c =

L
L

(Equation 2)

Were L is the change in length of the specimen and L is the length (or height).
4.1

Variability of Material

Plot the a histogram of compressive strength for all the four loading cases.
Discuss the variability in the mechanical strength of wood. The tested samples
were clear timber. What would happen to the variability if defects such as knots
were included? How do Civil engineers deal with this variability?
Table 3 describes the variability in strength of the wood.

Table 3: Variability in Wood

Wood

Oak

Pine

4.2

Test

Average
Strength

Standard
Deviation

Compression
Parallel to
Grains
Compression
Perpendicular
to Grains
Compression
Parallel to
Grains
Compression
Perpendicular
to Grains

Stress vs. Strain

Individual engineering stress-strain curves are required for each specimen. In

addition one stress strain plot off all the samples is required to clearly show the
difference between their mechanical properties. Discuss any significant points /
behaviour observed in the loading of the samples.
4.3

Mechanical properties

Describe the calculation of mechanical properties (For more details refer to

mechanical properties section of Tensile Testing of Metals Lab)

Table 4: Mechanical Properties

Wood
Name

Test Type

Specimen
No.

Compression
Parallel to
Grains

Oak 1

Compression
Perpendicular
to Grains

Oak 2

Compression
Parallel to
Grains

Pine 1

Compression
Perpendicular
to Grains

Pine 2

Strength
(MPa)

Failure

E (GPa)

Oak

Pine

4.4

Description of Specimen Failure

Include a sketch or picture that shows the observed failure in the lab. Why type
of failures were witnessed? Describe the mechanics of the failures, highlighting
the differences between the parallel and perpendicular tests.
4.5

Sources of Error

Define the sources of Error this testing procedure

5.0 Concluding Remarks

Summarize the findings. Note that the conclusions should satisfy each objective,
stated or implicit, in the Introduction. There must not be any new material.

6.0 References
Document the references considered in preparing the report.

Be sure to include sample calculations