CHAPTER IX. 



EUROPEAN TIMBERS — {Continued). 



EXPERIMENTS UPON THE TRANSVERSE STRENGTH OF 

 BRITISH OAK. 



British Oak timber being, as before stated, generally- 

 recognised as the standard of quality, the greatest 

 possible care was taken in preparing the specimens of 

 the prescribed dimensions — 2" x 2" x 84" — for the experi- 

 ments to test its strength ; further, the deflections 

 under a weight of 390 lbs., as also that at the crisis of 

 breaking, and the exact breaking weight each piece bore, 

 were all taken, the results being shown in the tables 

 which follow. It is hoped, therefore, that a sufficient 

 guide is thus afforded, not only for comparing its 

 strength with other woods, but also for determining the 

 scantling required for architectural purposes : — 



Table VII.— English Oak. 

 Transverse Experiments. 



Remarks. — Nos. x and ^ broke with a moderate length of fracture ; 2, 5, and 6 with 

 g to 15 inches and splinters in fracture. No. 3 was not completely broken asunder. 



H 2 



