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Mechanical Testing

Two mechanical tests have been performed on the samples a mechanical, a tensile test to Measure Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS or ) and MOE, and a Three Point Bend Test to measure Flexural Stress, MOE and MOR. Where feasible ASTM guidelines were followed [ASTM, 1992]. ASTM standard sizes for the wood testing were not observed for two reasons:

• The humidity chambers are too small to allow the specified dimensions
• The purpose of this experiment is not to make evaluations. But to determine comparisons between the properties over a range of Humidities

The Humidity Chambers were moved to the testing room which is at . Slight variations in temperature have negligible effect on EMC [McNatt, 1974]

The samples were removed from the chambers, dimensions measured, observations noted and placed in testing machine. The whole process taking less than five minutes depending on the time to fracture.

• Tensile Testing
• Three Point Bend Testing