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Timber Test Revised

This experiment tested the compressive strength and elastic modulus of timber beams under different loading conditions. When loaded parallel to the grains, the beams exhibited higher compressive strength as the grains acted like separate columns bearing the load. Perpendicular loading resulted in lower strength as any malformed grains reduced capacity. The testing measured dimensions, applied controlled compression, recorded deflections, and calculated properties like compressive strength and elastic modulus from the data. Results provided information on timber's mechanical behavior important for its structural use in construction.

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Jubaer Rabby
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69 views

Timber Test Revised

This experiment tested the compressive strength and elastic modulus of timber beams under different loading conditions. When loaded parallel to the grains, the beams exhibited higher compressive strength as the grains acted like separate columns bearing the load. Perpendicular loading resulted in lower strength as any malformed grains reduced capacity. The testing measured dimensions, applied controlled compression, recorded deflections, and calculated properties like compressive strength and elastic modulus from the data. Results provided information on timber's mechanical behavior important for its structural use in construction.

Uploaded by

Jubaer Rabby
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiment Name: Static Bending Test of Timber Beam

Objective:
• To observe the effect of slenderness ratio.
• To study the effects of parallel and perpendicular loading.
• To evaluate the failure patterns based on slenderness ratio and loading direction.

Apparatus:
• Universal testing machine (UTM),
• Slide calipers,
• Steel tape,
• Stopwatch,
• Timber

Theory:
Compressive Strength:
When a material is loaded in compression, the maximum load it can withstand without crushing
or rupturing is called its compressive strength.
For a wooden sample, anticipatingly, the failure will be brittle, and the material will fail without
prior warnings. However, the peak load that the wooden sample bears, also depends on the
orientation of its grains relative to the line of action of externally applied compressive load.
Modulus of Elasticity:
The modulus of elasticity of wood is the ratio of stress to strain within the elastic range of the
material. The strain values can be obtained from deflection gauges attached to the wooden
samples during the test, whereas, the stress is calculated using applied load and the contact area
of the sample. Mathematically,
Modulus of Elasticity, E = σ / ε
Load application is Parallel to the Grains
When a compressive load is applied on a wooden sample such that the line of action of the
external load and the orientation of the grains become parallel, the wooden sample shows a
relatively high compressive strength.

Fig.1

Investigating the stress-strain relationship unveils that the grains of the wooden sample act as
separate columns and each column contributes to bearing the applied load. Therefore, if a
particular grain column fails or gets malformed, the others play their part in withstanding the
crushing load.

Load application is Perpendicular to the Grains


When the applied loading is perpendicular to the grains of the wooden sample, the sample fails at
a relatively less load value. This is because any malformed grain reduces the overall load-bearing
capacity of the specimen.

Fig.2
Test Procedure:
1. Measure the dimensions of the wooden sample using a vernier caliper.
2. Place the wooden sample in the universal testing machine such that the grain fibers are
parallel to the applied compressive load.
3. Attach the deflection dial gauges to the sample.
4. Start loading the sample in compression.
5. Note down the deflection reading from the dial gauges for each regular load increment.
6. When cracks begin to appear, remove the deflection gauges and load the sample to
failure. Note down the peak or crushing load.
7. Using the peak load and contact area, calculate the compressive strength of the wooden
cube.
8. Calculate the stress and strain values and plot a graph between them to determine the
modulus of elasticity and modulus of stiffness.
9. Repeat the above procedure by orienting the sample in such a way that the grain fibers
are perpendicular to the applied load.
Discussion: The static bending test results indicate that the timber specimen exhibited a low
percentage reduction in length (2.34%), signifying its strength and ductility. The observed failure
pattern, described as brooming or end rolling, is a common mode for ductile materials,
demonstrating the timber's ability to flow plastically under stress. The failure location at the
bottom of the specimen aligns with typical ductile material behavior. The final length of the
specimen (198.4375mm) showed slight permanent deformation compared to its initial length of
202mm, which is expected in ductile materials.
In summary, these findings collectively suggest that the timber is both strong and ductile, making
it suitable for various structural applications.

Conclusion: The static bending test of the timber beam demonstrated the material's ability to
undergo significant deformation while maintaining ductile behavior. The observed failure
patterns and locations were consistent with typical timber responses to bending loads. The
residual deformation, as indicated by the final length, should be considered in structural design.
This information is crucial for the safe and effective use of timber beams in construction
applications, providing insight into their mechanical behavior and capacity to absorb energy
before failure.

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