Td. Faust et al., A METHOD OF TESTING THE FULL CROSS-SECTION OF WOOD IN TENSION PERPENDICULAR TO THE GRAIN, Forest products journal, 44(3), 1994, pp. 23-26
This report describes a method of testing wood specimens in tension pe
rpendicular to the grain whereby the entire cross section of the wood
may be subjected to stress. This method makes it possible to use tensi
on perpendicular testing to detect internal tree damage such as ring s
eparation through the entire radius of the tree. The testing procedure
is performed on a solid 2- by 2-inch variable-length test specimen. T
ensile stress is transferred to the test specimen through hard maple b
locks that are glued to the pith and bark faces of the test specimen.
The work was prompted by a study of storm-damaged trees in the Francis
Marion National Forest. 1 As part of the study. sections were removed
from 60 tree stems. A total of 273 specimens were tested. Tensile str
ength and break location were the primary variables of interest. Altho
ugh the results show no conclusive evidence of internal damage. the te
st may be a useful alternative to the standard ASTM D 143-83 for full
cross-section testing of tension perpendicular to the grain.