Laboratory Exercise No.

2
FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF WOOD

INTRODUCTION
Flexural strength of wood is an important property in the design of joist, rafter, girt, and
beam among others. Wood having greater flexural strength is capable of carrying
relatively greater bending load. The flexural stress of a sample at failure is also known
as modulus of rupture. Another property associated with flexure is the flexural modulus
of elasticity. It is the measure of how much the material will deflect when bending load is
applied along the span of the member. Determination of the sample densities will be
included in the procedure to find out the correlation of flexural strength and modulus of
elasticity to density. This laboratory exercise is based on ASTM D143, Standard
Methods of Testing Small Clear Specimens of Timber.

APPARATUS
1. Universal Testing Machine (UTM)
2. Compressometer or dial gage
3. Vernier caliper
4. Meter
5. Analytical balance
6. Circular saw

SAMPLE DESCRIPTION
Dimensions of wood samples are nominally 50 mm x 50 mm x 600 mm and planed in all
four sides. Samples should be air or kiln dried and free from defects. Wood samples
should also vary in terms of density.

PROCEDURE
1. Place the wood sample on the support beam as shown in Figure 2.1.
2. Lower the bending load slowly until it simply touches the wood sample.
3. Attach the dial gage for the measurement of deflection.
4. Set the load dial to zero.
5. Slowly apply load and make reading at predetermined interval.
6. Read also deflection in the dial gage at every interval as the load.
7. Continue load application until the sample fails.

CALCULATION
1. Calculation of maximum flexural stress (modulus of rupture)
a. When location of failure is at the midspan
 3PL
fB  2
2bd

b. When location of failure is off the midspan

3 Pa
fB = 2
bd

where:

fB = modulus of rupture, MPa

P = maximum applied load by the testing machine, N
L = Span length, mm
b = average width of specimen, mm
d = average depth of specimen, mm
a = average distance between line of fracture and the nearest support
measured on the tension surface of the beam, mm

2. Calculation of modulus of elasticity

3
PL
E = 3
4 δ bd

where:

E = modulus of elasticity, GPa

 = defection at the midspan of specimen, mm

Figure 2.1 Schematic Diagram of Flexural Test

Load, P

Deflection,
gage

Dial gage

L/2 L/2

2
Figure 2.2 Actual Set-up of Flexural Test

a) Before failure

b) After failure

3
FINAL DATA SHEET

Table 2.1 Flexural Test Collected of Data

Physical Properties
Sample
ID b d L Mass Density, ρ
(mm) (mm) (mm) (kg) (kg/m3)
S1
S2
S3
S4

Table 2.2 Flexural Test Collected of Data

Reading Load, P (N) Deflection,  (mm)

No. S1 S2 S3 S4 S1 S2 S3 S4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

4
 Figure 2.3. Load – Deflection Diagram

Load (N)

Deflection (mm)

Table 2.3. Summary of Sample Properties for Flexural Test

Sample Density, ρ Modulus of Maximum Flexural
ID (kg/m3) Elasticity, E (GPa) Stress, f (MPa)
S1
S2
S3
S4

5
 Name: Date Performed:

Course/Year: Instructor:

Laboratory Exercise No. 2

DETERMINATION OF FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF WOOD

PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

Flexural Test Collected of Data

Mechanical
Physical Properties
Sample Properties
ID b d L Mass Density, ρ E f
(mm) (mm) (mm) (kg) (kg/m3) (GPa) (MPa)
S1
S2
S3
S4

GROUP No. _________

Group Leader: __________________
Group Members: Signature:
1. _____________________ ____________
2. _____________________ ____________
3. _____________________ ____________
4. _____________________ ____________

Approved by:

_____________________
(Instructor)