Page 64 - ROHANA_Journal_No_11-2019-ok

Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 11, 2019

Compression Perpendicular to Grain Test

The specimens were loaded perpendicular to grain as shown in Figure 8(c) with the

loading plate moving at a speed of 0.000635 m/min to obtain their displacements.
The maximum possible load in the elastic region was used to obtain the

serviceability limit state compressive strength.

(a) Three-point bending (b) Compression parallel to grain c) Compression perpendicular to
grain
Figure 8: Standard specimen testing using a UTM

Compression Test on Specimens of Structural Scale

The specimens were tested for compression parallel to grain by using a compression

testing machine and their lateral deflections were recorded as the load varied. The

lateral deflections were measured by manual observations using deflection gauges
attached to the specimens in two sides.

Results and Discussion

Bending Strength

Table 1 presents the three-point bending test results and Figure 9 presents the
bending strength variation of clear and finger jointed timber species. Four clear

timber specimen and four finger jointed specimen were tested for each species. The

bending strength of Teak, Satin and Pine got reduced by less than 20% under this
test. These results reveal that finger jointed Satin is the timber species that can

withstand the bending most.

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