To Carryout Compression Test on Wooden Cubes when Load is applied

 Parallel to grains
 Perpendicular to grains

Objective

 To determine the compressive strength of wood

 To determine the modulus of elasticity of wood ( )
 To determine the modulus of stiffness of wood ( )
 To determine the anisotropic behaviour of wood

Apparatus

 5oo kN Shimardzu Universal Testing Machine

 Wooden samples (2 samples)
 Vernier caliper
 Deflection gauge

Related theory

• Compressive Strength

The maximum stress that a material can bear in compression is called compressive strength.

• Modulus of Elasticity ( )

It is the ratio of strength to strain and is determined by the slope of straight line from zero to
proportional limit of stress strain diagram.

E=

=E×

=E
P/delta = AE/L
= K = AE/L

1
∝

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 • Modulus of Stiffness ( )

It is the force required to produce unit deformation.

= AE/L =

• Isotropic Materials

The materials which exhibit same properties in different direction are known as isotropic
material e.g. steel.

• Anisotropic Materials

The materials which exhibit different properties in different directions e.g. wood.

Failure of Wooden Cube when Load is applied

 Parallel to grains

When load is applied parallel to grains, the wooden sample will take more load to fail. The
ability of wood to take more loads parallel to grains before failing is because each fiber acts as a
column to take parallel loads.

 Perpendicular to grains

When load is applied perpendicular to grains, wooden sample takes comparatively less load.
This is because the failure of single fiber will cause the failure of whole sample.

Note

The strength of wooden sample when load is applied parallel to the grains is about 10 times
more as compared to when load is applied perpendicular to the grains.

Procedure
First of all determine the dimension (L, W, and H) of all three sides of the wooden cube by the
Vernier Caliper. Then fix the cube in the machine and apply load in increments. And note the
readings of load and deflection readings. Then calculate the deformation, stress, and strain, and
modulus of elasticity and modulus of stiffness.

Comments
When the load is applied parallel to grains, the failure of the sample is due to shear failure,
which results in cracks at edges, and during load applied perpendicular to grains, the failure is
also shear failure where fiber have slide over one another and bulging.

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 Observations and Calculations

Sample No 1 (grains parallel)

L = 49.40mm
P
W = 50mm

H = 50.40mm
Wooden
Deflection cube
gauge
Cylinder

Sample No 2 (grains perpendicular)

L = 49.55mm

W = 49.52mm
P
H = 49.57mm
Wooden
Deflection cube
gauge
Cylinder

Bulging and sliding of

Cracking
fibers

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 Table

Load Deflection Deformation % strain Stress Modulus of Modulus of

P gauge = Elasticity Stiffness
= ×100
DGRx0.001x25.4
E= K=

(kN) (rad) (mm) - (kN/mm-2) (kN/mm-2) (kN/mm)

Sample No 1
0 100 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
5 122 0.559 1.109 0.002 0.183 8.948
10 130 0.762 1.512 0.004 0.268 13.123
15 136 0.914 1.814 0.006 0.335 16.404
20 144 1.118 2.218 0.008 0.365 17.895
25 147 1.194 2.369 0.010 0.427 20.942
30 152 1.321 2.621 0.012 0.463 22.714
35 157 1.448 2.873 0.014 0.493 24.175
40 161 1.549 3.074 0.016 0.527 25.816
45 165 1.651 3.276 0.018 0.556 27.256
50 170 1.778 3.528 0.020 0.574 28.121
55 174 1.880 3.729 0.022 0.597 29.262
60 179 2.007 3.981 0.024 0.610 29.901
65 184 2.134 4.233 0.026 0.622 30.465
70 188 2.235 4.435 0.028 0.639 31.317
75 193 2.362 4.687 0.030 0.648 31.750
80 197 2.464 4.889 0.032 0.663 32.470
85 202 2.591 5.141 0.034 0.669 32.808
90 209 2.769 5.493 0.036 0.663 32.507
95 217 2.972 5.896 0.038 0.652 31.967
99.1 235 3.429 6.804 0.040 0.590 28.901
Sample No 2
0 100 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
2 112 0.305 0.615 0.001 0.133 6.562
4 118 0.457 0.922 0.002 0.177 8.749
6 125 0.635 1.281 0.002 0.191 9.449
8 131 0.787 1.588 0.003 0.205 10.160
10 138 0.965 1.947 0.004 0.209 10.361
12 145 1.143 2.306 0.005 0.212 10.499
12.85 152 1.321 2.665 0.005 0.197 9.729

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 Stress ~ Strain Graph

Sample No 1

0.045
0.040
0.035
0.030
0.025
0.020
stress 0.015
(MPa) 0.010
0.005
0.000
0.000 2.000 4.000 6.000 8.000

% strain

Sample No 2

0.006

0.005

0.004

0.003

stress 0.002
(MPa)
0.001

0.000
0.000 1.000 2.000 3.000

% strain

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