UTILIZATION OF BASSWOOD. 



Table 1. — Actual and comparative properties of bassivood timber. 



( Pennsylvania. 

 "I Wisconsin. 



Locality where grown 



Weight per cubic foot: 



Green pounds . . 41 



Air-dry do 26 



Kiln-dry do 25 



Specific gravity, oven-dry, based on volume when green 0. 325 



Shrinkage from green to oven-dry condition: 



In volume (1) per cent. . 15. 8 



Radial (2) do 6.6 



Tangential (3) do. . . . 19. 3 



Comparative shrinkage (twice volume plus radial plus tangential divided by 



3) per cent.. 15. 8 



Strength in bending at 12 per cent moisture: (4) 



Modulus of rupture pounds per sq. in. . 836. 5 



Relative strength compared with white oak (white oak =100) 56 



Strength in compression parallel to grain at 12 per cent moisture: (5) 



Maximum crushing strength pounds per sq. in. . 4, 542 



Relative strength compared with white oak (white oak=100) 62 



Shearing strength parallel to grain at 12 per cent moisture: (6) 



Shearing strength pounds per sq. in. . 1, 000 



Relative shearing strength compared with white oak (white oak =100) 49 



Composite values: 



Strength as a beam or post 6, 350 



Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 61 



Hardness 284 



Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 27 



Shock-resisting ability 5. 48 



Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 42 



Stiffness 1, 231 



Compared with white oak (white oak=100) 81 



Note. — Each of the composite values given in this table is a weighted average of several values derived 

 from different kinds of strength tests. For instance, strength as a beam or post is a combination of values 

 derived from tests in static bending, impact bending, and compression parallel to grain. 













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1 



I 









1 

 1 



l=in volume; 2=radial; 3=tangential; 4=strength in bending; 5=strengthin compression parallel to 

 grain; 6=shearing strength parallel to gram. 



Table 2 gives the relative properties of yellow poplar, cottonwood, 

 and white pine compared with basswood, since these three woods are 

 often put to the same uses as basswood. This table indicates that 

 basswood is softer than any of these woods, also lighter in the oven- 

 dry condition. In the green condition basswood is heavier than 

 either yellow poplar or white pine because of the higher moisture 

 content of the basswood. Cottonwood, however, is much heavier 

 than basswood when green. Air-dry material of these four species 

 does not differ greatly in weight. Basswood shrinks more than the 

 other species given and its strength values are, in general, lower. 



