64 The Forest Products Laboratory 



likewise forms a fundamental basis for determining the design and use 

 of wood and things made of wood; effect of defects; the selection of 

 proper woods for various uses; the technical studies of wood-using 

 industries; the standardization of grading rules and })uilding codes; 

 and the economic utilization of structural timbers. 



When it is realized that more than one-half of the tim})er cut each 

 year is for structural use. the savings possible because of the accurate 

 knowledge of the mechanical properties of the different woods may 

 be appreciated. For example, one-sixth of the 40 billion feet of lum- 

 ber consumed annually is in the form of l)oxes and shipping containers. 

 It has been estimated that by developing ])alanced box construction 

 it will be possible to use from 2.5 to 50 per cent less lumber (equivalent 

 to a saving of from two to three ])illion feet of lumber annually) . and 

 at the same time provide containers equal to or better than those now 

 used. The demands upon the laboratory for information relative to 

 proper box construction are far in excess of what it can handle; and 

 while it has made a good many tests of different types of boxes, it has 

 scarcely scratched the surface of the field of possibilities. 



Anotlier field in wliicli the mechanical properties of wood shoidd 

 be studied is that involving the steam bending of wood. This is a field 

 in which the percentage of waste is exceedingly high, particularly in 

 the vehicle, furniture, and cooperage industries, due to the high per- 

 centage of ])reakage in the wood when under bending pressure. The 

 problem involves many factors. It is one upon which the laboratory 

 has been able to do practically nothing. 



Other profitable fields are those involving the development of 

 built-up trusses, thus making possible the utilization of low grade 

 lumber; the development of joints and fastenings in timber construc- 

 tion; the eff'ect of growth conditions on the properties of wood, and 

 especially the determination of the differences in the meclianical prop- 

 erties of the second growth timber now coming to merchantable size, 

 and upon which the industries will be more and more dependent ; the 

 development of laminated construction permitting greater utilization 

 of small sized and low grade material; comprehensive tests on full 

 sized timbers used as columns for building construction ; the standard- 

 ization of building codes so that each species will be given its proper 

 place, based upon its true mechanical value, thus avoiding tlie large 



