Wood Tensile Cleavage Test | ASTM D143 | BS 373 | Equipment

There are a variety of tensile tests for wood materials, including tension parallel to the grain, tension perpendicular to the grain, and cleavage tests. A cleavage test is similar to a fracture test for metals, testing a tensile failure mode that isn't captured in a standard tensile test method. The wood cleavage test is a very simple test to perform; only concerned with the maximum tensile cleavage load sustained by the wood specimen. The clear wood specimen contains a drilled or cutout section into which the fixture hooks to apply the tensile load. Tensile load is applied to the wood specimen at a constant rate of crosshead displacement, until the specimen breaks, measuring only the maximum force reached. Reference ASTM Standard D 143, 2009, Standard Test Methods for Small Clear Specimens of Timber, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2009. ASTM and BSI have developed extensive standards for testing the wide variety of properties for wood and wood based materials. The standard test methods for clear wood specimens are contained in ASTM D143 and BS 373. The cleavage strength can vary widely between tree species and even within a species based on geographic location and growth rate, so specific material properties will determine the need for a low or medium force capacity and tabletop or floor standing test machine. Contact a TestResources application engineer to discuss your wood cleavage testing requirements and develop the best test solution for your needs.

Applicable Testing Standards

• BS 373 Timber Testing Small Clear Specimens | Equipment
• ASTM D143 Timber Clear Specimen Test Equipment

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