TESTS OF WOODEN BARRELS. 3 



in the preceding test, while the second was discontinued whenever 

 one-half the contents had escaped or would have escaped had the 

 barrel been in the reverse position. This test is illustrated in 

 Plate II. 



SIDE-DROP TEST. 



In this test the barrels were dropped on a wooden platform about 

 3j inches thick resting on the concrete floor of the laboratory. On 

 top of this platform was a steel plate one -eighth inch in thickness. 

 The barrel was suspended with its axis horizontal. The first drop 

 was 3 inches, the next 6 inches, etc., increasing each time by 3 inches. 

 Each drop was upon the same point of the barrel. After the first 

 apparent leak the drops were made at 3-minute intervals. The 

 weight of the barrel and contents was taken immediately before 

 each drop. The test was continued until half the contents of the 

 barrel had escaped. Complete notes were made to show the character 

 and sequence of the failures. A picture of this test is shown in 

 Plate III. 



DIAGONAL-DROP TEST. 



This test was conducted in the manner described for the side-drop 

 test, except that the barrel was suspended so that the lowest point of 

 the chime was directly below the center of the barrel, which was 

 dropped on the chime. Each drop was upon the same point. A 

 picture of this test is shown in Plate IV. 



INTERNAL-PRESSURE TEST. 



In this test the barrel and connecting pipes were filled with water in 

 such a way as to exclude as nearly as possible all air. The pressure 

 was then raised to 2 pounds per square inch and held for 2 minutes. 

 It was then raised to 4 pounds and there held for 2 minutes. This 

 was repeated, increasing the pressure 2 pounds each time and holding 

 it constant for 2 minutes after each increase, until 1 pound of water 

 ran from the barrel in 1 minute or less. The test was then discon- 

 tinued. Complete notes were made as to the character and sequence 

 of the failures. 



In these tests connection to the barrel was made by screwing a 

 special tapered bush into the bunghole. The apparatus is shown in 

 Plate V. 



MINOR TESTS. 



STAVE TESTS. 



In order to find out something of the variability of the barrel 

 material tests were made on 36 staves, two from each of 6 ban-els of 

 each thickness. The best and poorest appearing stave of each barrel 

 was chosen. Pieces 2 inches in width, cut from these staves, were 

 tested in static bending under center loading. The span was 28 

 inches. The staves were placed with the outer side up. 



