Engineering evaluation of 55-year-old timber columns recycled from an industrial military building

Abstract

A large sample of timber was collected from a 548,000-ft.2 (50,900-m2) World War II era industrial military building containing approximately 1, 875,000 board feet (4,400 m3) of lumber and timber. Sixty 12-foot- (3.6-m-) long, nominal 8- by 8-inches (190-by 190-mm) Douglas-fir columns were tested at the USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, and the results were compared with the National Design Specification allowable design capacity. The effects of seasoning checks and splits on residual column strength are presented. Results indicate that about one-third of the columns were downgraded due to in-service defects, such as checks, splits, and mechanical damage. Both the modulus of elasticity and compressive strength were found to be greater than todayas design values.

Citation

Falk, Robert H.; Green, David; Rammer, Douglas; Lantz, Scott F. 2000. Engineering evaluation of 55-year-old timber columns recycled from an industrial military building. Forest products journal. Vol. 50, no. 4 (Apr. 2000).:p. 71-76 : ill.