Wood Beams - Strength of Material
Bending and compression strength of wood species used in beams.
Compression and bending strengths of wood species typically used in beams:
| Wood Species | Maximum Stress (psi) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bending | Compression | |||||
| Horizontal Shear - τ - | Perpendicular to Grain - σ - | Parallel to Grain - σ - | ||||
| Wet | Dry | Wet | Dry | Wet | Dry | |
| Birch, Yellow | 1417 | 1668 | 477 | 715 | 960 | 1200 |
| Fir, Douglas | 1417 | 1668 | 417 | 625 | 1360 | 1700 |
| Larch, Western | 1417 | 1668 | 417 | 625 | 1360 | 1700 |
| Maple, Red | 1271 | 1495 | 410 | 615 | 880 | 1100 |
| Oak, Black | 1369 | 1610 | 590 | 885 | 920 | 1150 |
| Pine, Eastern White | 1222 | 1438 | 223 | 335 | 960 | 1200 |
| Redwood | 1320 | 1553 | 433 | 650 | 1200 | 1500 |
- 1 psi (lb/in2) = 6895 Pa (N/m2)
- 1 MPa = 106 Pa
