Determination of the Young’s Modulus and Shear Modulus of Solid Wood by the Symmetric and Asymmetric Four-Point Bending Tests

Abstract

The Young’s modulus and shear modulus of solid wood (Sitka spruce) in the longitudinal-radial (LR) and longitudinal-tangential (LT) planes were obtained from the symmetric four-point bending and asymmetric four-point bending tests under various span/depth ratios. Independently from the bending tests, the Young’s modulus and shear modulus were measured from the tension and Iosipescu shear tests, respectively, and the validity of the bending tests was examined by comparing the results of these various tests. The Young’s modulus and shear modulus could be determined accurately when using both the four-point testing data obtained in the appropriate range of span/depth ratios, which was approximately from 25 to 30.