Shear strength in structural composite lumber

A study has been conducted to evaluate the shear strength of 44 x 184 mm an d 44 x 305 mm laminated veneer lumber and parallel strand lumber using ASTM shear block tests, center-point bending tests, and five-point bending test s. In the center-point bending tests of specimens with joist orientation, t he specimens have been remanufactured into "I" shapes to promote longitudin al shear failures rather than bending failures. The ratio between the avera ge apparent shear strength from the five-point and center-point loading tes ts ranges from 1.34 to 1.53. Similarly, the ratio between the average appar ent shear strength from the five-point loading tests and the ASTM block she er tests ranges from 1.03 to 1.39.