Expedition Workshed > Materials > Bending failure of a glulam beam grain perpendicular to beam axis

Bending failure of a glulam beam grain perpendicular to beam axis

FACT FILE

  • Material
    GL28 Glulam
  • Ultimate load
    1kN

This video shows the bending failure of a simply supported glulam beam arranged with the grain perpendicular to the beam axis.

Learning Outcomes:

Viewers will gain an improved understanding of:

  • The strength properties of timber
  • The influence of grain orientation on strength

The beam is subjected to four-point bending. Failure occurs very suddenly, demonstrating the limited strength of the timber parallel to the grain.

Structures expert, Doctor Christian Malaga-Chuquitaype of Imperial College, London narrates this video. Doctor Malaga-Chuquitaype is a Lecturer and Assistant Professor in the Structures Section at Imperial College’s Department of Civil Engineering.

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