M-28549-F 



A timber radio tower 326 feet high, framed with modern connectors. 



strength of wood itself. Investigations 

 of the common timber fastenings afford 

 detailed data on the holding power of 

 nails, screws, and spikes driven in 

 various kinds of wood and at different 

 angles to the grain. Tests of bolted 

 joints also cover a wide range and have 

 removed a large factor of uncertainty 

 and hazard from timbered construction. 

 A new field of engineering construction 

 has been opened by the investigation 

 of modern plate and ring connectors 

 that act as dowels or keys in wood 

 framing. By means of these connec- 

 tors new types of large timber struc- 

 tures are coming into being throughout 

 the country, including long-span high- 

 way bridges, radio and lookout towers, 

 oil-field equipment, and public buildings. 



"Prefabricated housing 



The provision of easily erected, eco- 

 nomical, and comfortable homes for 

 families of small means is one of the 



most urgent needs of our economic era, 

 and the development of more efficient 

 use of wood for this purpose presents a 

 broad responsibility for research. An 

 intensive study of prefabricated housing 

 is in progress, centering on structural 

 problems and extending into related 

 fields of investigation, such as season- 

 ing, moisture control, painting, and fire 

 resistance. A complete house of ply- 

 wood unit panels has been worked out 

 and demonstrated. Structural systems 

 and accessory features are being devel- 

 oped for house prefabrication with lum- 

 ber as well as sheet materials, with a 

 view to speed of erection, durability, 

 and comfort at minimum cost to the 

 owner. 



Laminated construction 



The modern era of wood construc- 

 tion looks forward to new forms, new 

 methods, and new standards of service, 

 while changes in the forest stand neces- 



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