CIVL 2020 Lab No. 3: Compressive Test of Wood Specimens

These flashcards cover the key concepts and terminology related to the compressive testing of wood specimens as discussed in the CIVL 2020 Lab.

Compressive Stress

The stress that occurs when a material is subjected to a squeezing force, reducing its length parallel to the grain.

Modulus of Elasticity (E)

A measure of a material's stiffness, calculated as the slope of the stress-strain curve in the elastic region.

Anisotropic Material

A material that exhibits different properties when measured along different directions, such as wood.

Failure Mode

The manner in which a material fails under stress, including modes such as crushing, wedge splitting, shearing, and splitting.

Proportional Limit

The maximum stress that a material can withstand while still exhibiting a linear relationship between stress and strain.

Ultimate Strength

The maximum stress a material can bear before it fails.

Clear Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga Menziesii)

A type of wood that is commonly tested for compressive strength, known for its high strength-to-weight ratio.

Heterogeneous Material

A material composed of different components, which can lead to variability in its properties.

Safety Factor

A ratio that measures the strength of a system compared to the expected load, used to ensure safety against failure.

Stress-Strain Curve

A graphical representation showing the relationship between the applied stress and the resulting strain in a material.

Lignin

A complex organic polymer that binds together the cellulose fibers in wood, providing structural support.