In order that tests may be intelligently compared, it is important that account be taken of the speed at which the stress was applied. In determining the basis for a ratio between time and strength the rate of strain, which is controllable, and not the ratio of stress, which is circumstantial, should be used. In other words, the rate at which the movable head of the testing machine descends and not the rate of increase in the load is to be regulated. This ratio, to which the name speed-strength modulus has been given, may be expressed as a coefficient which, if multiplied into any proportional change in speed, will give the proportional change in strength. This ratio is derived from empirical curves. ([See Table XVII].)

TABLE XVII
SPEED-STRENGTH MODULI AND RELATIVE INCREASE IN STRENGTH AT RATES OF FIBRE STRAIN INCREASING IN GEOMETRICAL RATIO. (Tiemann, loc. cit.)
(Values in parentheses are approximate)
Rate of fibre strain.
Ten-thousandths inch per minute per inch
2/3 2 6 18 54 162 486
COMPRESSION Speed of crosshead.
Inches per minute
0.000383 0.00115 0.00345 0.0103 0.0310 0.0931 .279
Specimens Wet Dry All Wet Dry All Wet Dry All Wet Dry All Wet Dry All Wet Dry All Wet Dry All
Relative crushing strength


100.0 100.0 100.0 103.4 100.8 101.5 107.5 102.7 103.8 113.9 105.5 107.9 121.3 108.3 116.4 128.8 110.0 118.9
Speed-strength modulus, T



0.017 (0.006)(0.009) 0.033 0.012 0.016 0.047 0.021 0.029 0.053 0.027 0.039 0.060 0.023 0.049 (0.052)(0.015)(0.040)
BENDING Speed of crosshead.
Inches per minute
0.0072 0.0216 0.0648 0.194 0.583 1.75 5.25
Specimens Wet Dry All Wet Dry All Wet Dry All Wet Dry All Wet Dry All Wet Dry All Wet Dry All
Relative crushing strength 97.4 99.0 98.2 100.0 100.0 100.0 105.1 102.1 103.7 111.3 105.8 108.1 117.9 108.6 112.7 123.7 109.6 116.3 126.3 110.3 118.9
Speed-strength modulus, T
(0.014)(0.005) 0.012 0.033 0.014 0.026 0.049 0.026 0.037 0.053 0.033 0.038 0.049 0.014 0.035 0.038 0.006 0.025 (0.023)(0.004)(0.014)
NOTE.—The usual speeds of testing at the U.S. Forest Service laboratory are at rates of fibre strain of 15 and 10 ten-thousandths in. per min. per in. for compression and bending respectively.

BENDING LARGE BEAMS

Apparatus: A static bending machine (described above), with a special crosshead for third-point loading and a long platform bearing knife-edge supports, is required. ([See Fig. 29].)

Figure 29

Static bending test on large beam. Note arrangement of wire and scale for measuring deflection; also method of applying load at "third-points."

Preparing the material: Standard sizes and grades of beams and timbers in common use are employed. The ends are roughly squared and the specimen weighed and measured, taking the cross-sectional dimensions midway of the length. Weights should be to the nearest pound, lengths to the nearest 0.1 inch, and cross-sectional dimensions to the nearest 0.01 inch.