Bataan Peninsula State University

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Department of Civil Engineering
City of Balanga, Bataan

CEMT0413 – Construction Materials and Testing

Academic Year 2021-2022
First Semester

Laboratory Work No: 02

Title: TESTING FOR BENDING, SHEAR, COMPRESSION AND

TENSILE OF WOOD SAMPLES

Name: GROUP NO. 2

Program/Year/Section: BSCE-CEM3A

ENGR. JONATHAN CRUZ MUÑOZ

Faculty

G R A D E: _________

VISION
A leading university in the Philippines recognized for its
proactive contribution to Sustainable Development through
equitable and inclusive programs and services by 2030.
MISSION
To develop competitive graduates and empowered
community members by providing relevant, innovative and
transformative knowledge, research, extension and
production programs and services through progressive
enhancement of its human resource capabilities and
institutional mechanisms.
TESTING FOR BENDING, SHEAR, COMPRESSION
AND TENSILE OF WOOD SAMPLES

GROUP TWO

LEADER
Espiritu, Ciara Mae M.

MEMBERS
Dionisio, Nikki Hershey R.
Ellano, Roddel C.
Gerio, Darius Philip B.
Peñaflor, Bea V.
Perello, Dana Sofia F.
Petito, John Melvin B.

GROUP TWO
LEADER:

TESTING FOR BENDING OF WOOD SAMPLES

MEMBERS:

TESTING FOR COMPRESSION OF WOOD SAMPLES

TESTING FOR COMPRESSION OF WOOD SAMPLES

TESTING FOR TENSILE OF WOOD SAMPLES

TESTING FOR SHEAR OF WOOD SAMPLES

TESTING FOR SHEAR OF WOOD SAMPLES

TESTING FOR BENDING OF WOOD SAMPLES

TESTING FOR COMPRESSION OF WOOD SAMPLES

Compression Test

A compression test is any test in which a material experiences opposing forces that push
inward upon the specimen from opposite sides or is otherwise compressed, “squashed”,
crushed, or flattened. The test sample is generally placed in between two plates that distribute
the applied load across the entire surface area of two opposite faces of the test sample and
then the plates are pushed together by a universal test machine causing the sample to flatten. A
compressed sample is usually shortened in the direction of the applied forces and expands in
the direction perpendicular to the force. A compression test is essentially the opposite of the
more common tension test. Wood and timber material undergo compression testing to
determine their suitability for a specific application and purpose.

The goal of compression testing is to determine the behavior or response of a material

while it experiences a compressive load by measuring fundamental variables, such as strain,
stress, and deformation. By testing a material in compression, the compressive strength, yield
strength, ultimate strength, elastic limit, and the elastic modulus among other parameters may
all be determined. With the understanding of these different parameters and the values
associated with a specific material it may be determined whether the material is suited for
specific applications or if it will fail under the specified stresses.

Purpose of Compression Test

Compression testing aids in determining the mechanical properties of wood. However,

these properties are subject to change depending upon the type of wood taken. Additionally, a
small wooden sample is, at times, not representative of the material and, therefore, testing a
wooden beam or a larger sample may result in differing properties w.r.t the magnitudes.
Nevertheless, the general trend remains the same. Compression of wood and wood-based
materials plays an important role in almost any construction projects. If the compression
strength of a 2-inch by 4-inch beam is not known, deflection due to bearing a load may cause
significant deformation, which could even lead to its failure during service life. Therefore, most
softwood construction lumber is graded based on allowable load resistance, which can be
determined from a test. However, strength properties of hardwood lumber are not that critical
because most of it is used for furniture manufacturing and is not exposed to substantial loads.

In general, a compression test for a material involves at least two opposing forces
directed towards each other applied to the opposite face of the test sample so that the sample is
compressed. However, there are many different variations to this basic test setup that involve
any combination of different variables. The more common compression tests involve forces
applied to more than one axis of the specimen as well as the testing of the sample at elevated
and lowered temperatures. Uniaxial, biaxial, triaxial, cold temperature, elevated temperature,
fatigue and creep are all examples of different compression tests that may be performed upon a
material. The most common measurement obtained from a compression test is the compressive
strength which is the maximum stress a material can withstand before it yields or breaks. It is
also possible to measure modulus of elasticity, yield stress, and deformation when performing
compression tests. In testing materials, there are standards to take in consideration and ASTM
D905 is one of those that is focused on wood. It is titled as Wood Adhesive Bonds in Shear by
Compression Loading.

What Are the Two Types of Bend Tests?

There are two different forms of compression testing: with grain and perpendicular to
grain, each of which reveal a different set of characteristics about the tested material. With grain
compression testing requires the load to be applied along the grains of the test sample,
whereas, perpendicular to grain compression testing requires the load to be applied
perpendicularly to the grain of the wood sample.

Flexure testing requires the load to be applied perpendicularly to the grain at the midpoint of the
sample while it is supported underneath at two points causing the sample to essentially bend in
half. Tests can be performed statically or dynamically on wood products.

Process and Procedure

To perform a compression test, a sample is loaded into a compression tester with a

compression fixture and a load is applied and is essentially crushed until failure. But in the
laboratory and for a detailed procedure, here’s how:

1. Measure the dimensions of the wooden sample using a measuring instrument like vernier
caliper.

2. Place the wooden sample in the compression machine like universal testing machine.

3. Attach the deflection dial gauges to the sample.

4. Start loading the sample in compression.

5. It is also important to 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
and then 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.

Compression test machines (CTM) are universal testing machine specially configured to
evaluate static compressive strength characteristics of materials, products, and components

and are used to determine a material's strength under applied crushing loads and are usually
conducted by applying compressive pressure to a test specimen with compression platens or
specialized fixtures on a universal testing machine or a specialized compression only test
machine.

Compression Test on Woods

The compressive strength of lumber parallel to the grain is much higher than that
perpendicular to the grain. Columns, posts and members of a truss are subjected to axial loads
parallel to the grain of the wood. When a column rests on a beam, the load from the column
creates compressive (bearing) stress on the beam that is perpendicular to the grain of the wood.
The compressive strength of most softwood lumber parallel to the grain is in the range of 2000-
4000 psi. The stress at the proportional limit is about 80% of this strength. The compressive
strength perpendicular to the grain varies between 12-18% of that parallel to the grain. The
compressive stress at the proportional limit, for loading perpendicular to the grain, is about 12-
25% of that for loading parallel to the grain. In dry condition, lumber can possess significantly
higher compressive strength. For example, the compressive strength (parallel to the grain) of
Douglas fir in green condition is about 3700 psi, while that at 12% moisture content is about
7000 psi. Seasoning increases the compressive strength. Typically, the compressive strength
(parallel and perpendicular to the grain) increases an average 4-6% for every 1% decrease in
moisture content. Species such as Oak, Maple, Douglas Fir, Southern Yellow Pine, and
Western Larch possess very high compressive strengths.

According to some study, the compressive strength of a local tropical wood was
improved significantly by suitable impregnation of polymeric monomers (methyl methacrylate,
methyl methacrylate—5% dioxane and vinyl acetate) into the wood cellular structure and
subsequent irradiation to form a wood-polymer composite. Statistical analysis revealed a linear
relationship between increase in the strengths and the percentage of polymer impregnated.
Fractographic analysis of the impact fractured surfaces under the scanning electron microscope
showed the nature of the wood-polymer interface, which could account for the increase in the
compressive and bending strengths.

There is a study by George Pincus about the nature of compression failure in wood. It
was said there that the inelasticity of wood in compression is started by buckling of the external
fibers of the material. These fibers are laterally supported by the adjacent internal fibers and
may be considered miniature Euler columns of unknown length. The fiber-column failure stress
is derived using energy methods. This critical stress is found to be a function of the material
compression modulus of elasticity, the transverse material tensile strength, and the ratio of fiber
diameter to lateral fiber deflection at buckling. Five wood species were tested in direct
compression. Transverse tension coupon tests were performed on the same material. Good
agreement was found to exist between theory and test results.
REFERENCES:

https://cedb.asce.org/CEDBsearch/record.jsp?dockey=0015154
https://constructionhow.com/compression-test-on-wooden-sample
https://www.testresources.net/applications/test-types/compression-test/
hhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0146572485902298
ttps://www.testresources.net/applications/materials/wood-products/
https://studylib.net/doc/7353907/compression-testing-wood

VIDEO REFERENCE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFirFyXY-_0