Introduction

Wood is defined as a hard fibrous substance consisting basically of xylem that

makes up the greater part of the stems, branches, and roots of trees or shrubs beneath the

bark and is found to a limited extent in herbaceous plants. Wood is divided into two

distinct kinds called hardwood and softwood, though confusingly the names don't always

refer to its actual hardness or softness:

Hardwoods are ones that come from broad-leaved (deciduous) trees (those that

drop their leaves each fall, also known as angiosperms because their seeds are encased in

fruits or pods). Examples include ash, beech, birch, mahogany, maple, oak, teak, and

walnut.

Softwoods come from evergreen (coniferous) trees (those that have needles and

cones and retain those year-round, also called gymnosperms. Examples include cedar,

cypress, fir, pine, spruce, and redwood.

Wood has many other interesting characteristics. It's hygroscopic, which means

that, just like a sponge, it absorbs water and swells up in damp conditions, giving out the

water again when the air dries and the temperature rises

Shearing test parallel to the grain of wood is much easier to move than

perpendicular to the sample. Though it is also important to test the capability and

determine the maximum load applied on the wood sample that can resist it from fracture.

With this, it is necessary to subject the wood from shearing stress test to meet the

standards and for future use.

Objective

To test the shearing stress parallel to the grain of the wood.

Procedure

Apparatus:

Testing Machine

Caliper

Shear tool apparatus

1. Measure and record actual dimensions of the shearing surface.

2. Place specimen in shear test assembly.
3. Place the assembly in the testing machine. Provide a 1/8 inch offset along which

failure occurs.
4. Set dials to monitor rate of load of application.
5. Applied continuously throughout at the rate of 0.0004 in/sec until failure.
6. Sketch the failure pattern and compute the shearing stress.
Computation:

Shearing Stress =

Test Results
 The result shows the shearing stress with its maximum load applied during the

test and the area subjected for shearing.

Maximum Load Applied

Shearing Area
Shearing Stress

Discussion of Results

With the determination of the maximum load applied on the sample during the

test to be , and given the shearing area to be , the value for shearing stress

can be computed using the formula: Shear Stress = Force/Area.

Figure 1 shows the actual wood sample after subjecting for shear test.

Conclusion:
 Shearing test parallel to the grain of wood is much easier to move than

perpendicular to the sample. Though it is also important to test the capability and

determine the maximum load applied on the wood sample that can resist it from fracture.

With this, it is necessary to subject the wood from shearing stress test to meet the

standards and for future use. The group was able to determine the shearing stress of the

sample. In doing this type of test, one primary consideration must be the proper

placement and orientation of the latter inside the shear tool apparatus. The area subjected

for shearing must be determined first before testing the sample. Basing on the standards,

the shear test parallel to the grain of wood ranges from 3 to 15 MPa, and so, the

computed value of the shear strength lies between the ranges.

Sources:

Shear Test Retrieved from:

http://www.uta.edu/ce/geotech/lab/Main/sieve/index.htm
Woods Retrieved from:

http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/smithd/477/manuals/techniques/10%20Geo

g%20477.pdf
Shear Test Parallel to the grain of wood Retrieved from :

http://dot.state.nm.us/content/dam/nmdot/TTCP/2012/Aggregate/T-27.pdf
Civil 111 Coarse Aggregate Retrieved from:

http://teaching.ust.hk/~civl111/CHAPTER3.pdf

Appendix
Computation

FORMULA:

Shearing Stress =

Shearing Stress =
Shearing Stress=