MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF RED MAPLE STRUCTURAL LUMBER

Efficient utilization of hardwood structural lumber depends on develop ing better procedures of grading and property assignment. In this stud y, we evaluated the properties of red maple 2- by 4-in. (standard 38- by 89-mm) lumber tested in bending and in tension and compression para llel to the grain and compared the results to published values derived by ASTM D 245 clear wood procedures. The results indicate that signif icant increases in allowable properties could be obtained using proced ures based on tests of full-size lumber. The results also demonstrate that the relationships between lumber strength in compression parallel to grain and bending strength and between tension parallel to grain a nd bending strength are similar to those for softwood species. Thus, p rocedures used to assign properties to mechanically graded softwood sp ecies should be applicable to red maple.