Bearing strength of particleboard
Bearing strength of particleboard
(OP)
I am checking the bearing strength of particleboard, where the common small diameter pins used to support the adjustable shelves fit into the holes in the supporting paticleboard vertical member. Does anyone know what particleboard used in shelving can safely support in that type of bearing? A preliminary approximate calculation indicates a peak bearing stress under the pin of about 900 psi, where the particleboard bearing has failed.






RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
http://ucanr.edu/sites/woodybiomass/newsletters/fp...
reference American national standard for particle board
http://www.flakeboard.com/specs/ANSI%20A208.1-1999...
where some of the reference values came from:
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951d02...
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
Thanks for the references. I will study up on them. Much apreciated.
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
Sounds like Walmart
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
No books fell off the shelf - it was noticed that one corner of the shelf was lower.
I will have to check whether the material is plywood or fibreboard. I think that the fundamental problem was that there was a gap between the end of the plywood shelf and the supporting vertical member into which the pin fit. Such a large gap is not present at other shelves in the units. I don't know yet if the gap is there because the shelf was cut too short, or because the supporting vertical member bowed due to relative humidity changes from summer to winter, which varies from 15% in winter to 65% in summer.
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
Regarding the pin...if you don't need to adjust the height of the shelves then you can screw in a long piece of wood below the shelf and give it continuous support.
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
If you find that its not engineered right, I would see if a class action lawsuit could be started, I hate to bring lawyers into the mix, but think if it was a kid playing at the base of the bookshelf, and not a pooch.
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
So design the connection for 250 psi and call it good.
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Bearing strength of particleboard
Pins and particleboard are cheap and you can bust plenty of them in a short time using household equipment.
I would think testing is the way to go here.