Wood can be subjected to compression parallel to grain, perpendicular to
grain, or at an angle to grain (Figure 3-12). When compression is applied perpendicular to grain, it produces stress
that deforms the wood cells perpendicular to their length. Again recalling
the straw analogy, wood cells collapse at relatively low stress levels when
loads are applied in this direction. However, once the hollow cell cavities
are collapsed, wood is quite strong in this mode because no void space
3-19
exists. Wood will actually deform to about half its initial thickness before
complete cell collapse occurs, resulting in a loss in utility long before
failure. For compression perpendicular to grain, failure is based on the
accepted performance limit of 0.04 inch deformation. Using this convention,
the average strength of green, clear wood specimens of coast
Douglas-fir and loblolly pine in compression perpendicular to grain is
approximately 700 and 661 lb/in2
, respectively.7
Compression applied at an angle to grain produces stress acting both
parallel and perpendicular to the grain. The strength at an angle to grain is
therefore intermediate to these values and is determined by a compound
strength equation (the Hankinson formula) discussed in Chapter 5.