Inferring Strength Of Structural Timbers From Small Clear Specimen Strength Test Data
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Research in Engineering & Advanced Technology
Abstract
Despite the existence of diverse timber species in least developed countries such as Uganda, wood has been underutilized
in the construction sector on grounds of its perceived unreliability due to lack of adequate strength data.
Attempts have been made to establish strength of small clear specimens but the relationship between MOE and MOR of
small clear specimens and structural size tropical timber is not documented. Therefore this research was conducted to
compare the flexural strength of small clear to that of structural size specimens; and particularly the effect of knots on
MOE and MOR of structural size timber. Small clear tests were conducted in bending, compression and shear parallel to
grain using standard procedures of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), ISO 8905 (1988), and BS
373 (1957). Structural size bending tests were conducted following ASTM ISO 8905 (1988), AS/NZS 2878 (2000); BS
4978; ASTM D198-02; ISO/FDIS 13910:2004 and BS 373 (1957). It was concluded that structural size MOE and MOR
can be estimated from small clear MOE and MOR using reduction factors of 40% and 20% respectively. It was
recommended that more research into the effect of complex knots, cross-grain and grain angle on timber strength be
done for better structural grading of timber.
Description
Keywords
MOE, Timber, MOR, Flexure strength, Knots, Wood
Citation
Zziwa, A., Ziraba, Y. N., & Mwakali, J. A. (2016). Inferring strength of structural timbers from small clear specimen strength test data. International Journal of Research in Engineering & Advanced Technology, 3(6), 142-152.