Secton loss test for timber
Secton loss test for timber
(OP)
I am looking for a good "industry standard" test to check for section loss of wood structural members. I am currently working on an inspection of a wood-framed apartment complex with wood foundations. Any literature or advice would be greatly appreciated as timber is one of my weaker materials I've worked with (no pun intended).






RE: Secton loss test for timber
BA
RE: Secton loss test for timber
RE: Secton loss test for timber
Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.
WWW.amlinereast.com
RE: Secton loss test for timber
Tear into it - see what is still "good" - reduce your section and go from there. Get rid of moisture!!
RE: Secton loss test for timber
RE: Secton loss test for timber
Publication: Forest Products Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory
RE: Secton loss test for timber
Unlike mold and stain fungi, wood-destroying (decay) fungi seriously reduce strength by metabolizing the cellulose fraction of wood that gives wood its strength. Early stages of decay are virtually impossible to detect. For example, brown-rot fungi may reduce mechanical properties in excess of 10% before a measurable weight loss is observed and before decay is visible. When weight loss reaches 5% to 10%, mechanical properties are reduced from 20% to 80%. Decay has the greatest effect on toughness, impact bending, and work to maximum load in bending, the least effect on shear and hardness, and an intermediate effect on other prop¬erties. Thus, when strength is important, adequate measures should be taken to (a) prevent decay before it occurs,
(b) control incipient decay by remedial measures, or (c) replace any wood member in which decay is evident or believed to exist in a critical section. Decay can be prevented from starting or progressing if wood is kept dry (below 20% moisture content).
No method is known for estimating the amount of reduction in strength from the appearance of decayed wood. Therefore, when strength is an important consideration, the safe proce¬dure is to discard every piece that contains even a small amount of decay. An exception may be pieces in which decay occurs in a knot but does not extend into the surrounding
wood.