Bending failure of a softwood beam grain parallel to beam axis

FACT FILE

  • Materials
    C24 Pine
  • Ultimate load
    24kN

This video shows the bending failure of a simply supported, Class C24 softwood beam arranged with the grain parallel to the beam axis. The test specimen is free of defects.

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 suddenly, with brittle fracture of the wood fibres occurring in the tension zone of the beam.

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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