Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 10, No. 8, pp.

553-563, 1996
6 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
Printed in Great Britain. All rightsresewed
09SO-O618/96 $15.OU+O.o0
PII:S0950-0618(96)00024d

Structural properties of used plywood

Saeed Karshenas and Judith P. Feely

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University,

1515 W. Wisconsin Ave., MI 53233, USA

Received 11 October 1995; revised 28 August 1996; accepted 30 September 1996

Results of an experimental analysis of the structural properties of used slab formwork plywood
sheathing are presented. The samples tested were obtained from two concrete construction
sites in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All samples tested were 1.2 mx2.4 m (4 ftx8 ft), seven-ply, 16 mm
(5/8 in) thick plywood sheets. Flexural properties were determined according to the guidelines
specified by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). lnterlaminar shear strength
was determined using a five-point test method. In this paper, the observed bending stiffnesses,
bending strengths, interlaminar shear strengths, and moments of inertia for both face grain
parallel and perpendicular to span directions are presented. The observed structural properties
are also modeled with appropriate probability distributions. The observed data are used to
investigate the correlation between the bending strength and stiffness of plywood. 0 1997
Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: used plywood; slab formwork; structural properties

Introduction
It is certainly no secret that contractors routinely re-use
formwork members until they are badly deteriorated.
Currently, wooden formwork design is based on specifica-
tions for wood in new condition. Even though AC1 347R-
88l cautions formwork designers to take re-use effects into
consideration, it is difficult to do this without specific
guidelines. To adjust wood design criteria for formwork
design, data on the structural properties of used formwork
material is required. To obtain such data, several concrete
construction projects were visited with the objective to
collect used formwork member samples for laboratory
experiments. Samples of formwork plywood sheathing,
joists, stringers and shores were collected. The results of
laboratory experiments on the joists, stringers and shores
are presented in Refs. 6-8. The observed structural
properties for the collected formwork sheathing samples
are presented herein.
Currently, there is no published data on the structural
properties of used formwork plywood. A study by Hunt and
Mattison’ investigated the structural characteristics
weathered plywood obtained from 15 hog houses, ranging
21-29 y in age. The hog houses had been located in outdoor
pastures and had withstood several decades of continuous
weathering. The roofs of the houses were constructed using
13 mm (0.5 in) thick exterior grade Douglas fir plywood
panels. The grade designation used at that time was
‘Exterior SOlS’, which has been replaced with the currently
used Structural I A-C Exterior grade. The results of the hog
house plywood testing showed that the average modulus of
elasticity (MOE) of the material was 6% less than the
allowable value for design specified by the American
Plywood Association (APA) design values. The average
modulus of rupture (MOR) was more than two times the
APA design values. The average modulus of rigidity for
shear-through-the-thickness was substantially greater than
the allowable value for design, and the ultimate strength
determined by the shear-through-the-thickness tests was
more than twice the APA design values.
Slab formwork sheathing is usually made of 16 or
19 mm (518 or 3/4 in) thick B-B Exterior plywood.
According to a number of formwork contractors, slab
formwork plywood is usually re-used 8-12 times. To
investigate the effect of re-use on the structural properties
of sheathing plywood, 22 samples of 16 mm (518 in) thick
plywood sheets obtained from two concrete building
project sites were tested. This paper presents the observed
sectional properties, bending stiffnesses, bending moment
capacities, and interlaminar shear properties in both parallel
and perpendicular to the face grain directions. The observed
formwork properties are compared with the corresponding
APA recommended design values. Appropriate probability
models for summarizing the observed properties are also
investigated.
of
Objective of the study
The objective of this study is to determine the residual
strength of used slab formwork plywood sheathing. To
achieve this objective, 22 plywood sheets of dimensions
1.2 mx2.4 m (4 ftx 8 ft), randomly collected from two
concrete building construction sites, are tested. All samples
are tested in wet condition (moisture content higher than
16%) to simulate the condition of formwork plywood in
contact with wet concrete. The samples were tested in
bending and shear. Probability distributions that best
represent the observed plywood properties are investigated.

553
554 Structural properties
Material acquisition
Two multistorey projects were visited for sample collec-
tion. These projects were located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In both projects, 16 mm (5/8 in) thick plywood was used.
In each project, 1.5 plywood sheets were randomly
selected and marked with spray paint. All plywood sheets
selected were installed in formwork during site visit. The
contractors agreed to set aside as many marked plywood
sheets as they could find after dismantling the formwork for
shipping to the laboratory for testing. A total of 22 plywood
panels were shipped to the laboratory. All samples were
1.2 mx2.4 m (4 ftx8 ft), seven-ply plywood. Both con-
tractors stated that they used Structural I B-B Exterior
grade plywood for formwork sheathing. The grade marks
on most samples were not legible due to re-use. Two
samples with legible grade marks were Structural 1 B-B
Exterior plywood. It was not clear whether the samples
were sanded or unsanded. In this paper, the observed
sample properties will be compared with those of the
sanded plywood. The plywood samples must have been
used 5-12 times. This is because, the samples were
collected during the construction of the fifth and sixth
levels of the buildings visited; and the contractors, who
were interviewed, stated that B-B Exterior plywood usually
cannot be used more than 8-12 times in slab formwork
construction. No major delamination was observed in the
samples. All samples had a number of nail holes on their
surfaces. Seven samples were in worse physical condition
than the rest; there were crushed areas around the edges of
these sheets, the face plies in some areas were broken or
damaged, and some of the plies around the edges had
to delaminate.
Figure 1 Test apparatus for determining bending stiffness
of used plywood: S. Karshenas and J. P. Feely
Laboratory experiments
Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the
bending stiffnesses and bending and interlaminar shear
strengths of the samples. Since formwork sheathing is in
contact with wet concrete, it usually has a high moisture
content. Obviously, sheathing moisture content is not
constant; it is high immediately after pouring concrete
and reduces as the concrete cures. To simulate field
conditions, the samples were tested with moisture contents
higher than 16%, which is defined as wet condition for
plywood3. For raising the moisture content of the samples
to wet condition, the samples were kept in a moist
environment for a few days prior to testing.
Three methods are recommended by ASTM D3043-872
for determining the flexural properties of plywood. These
methods are designated as A, B and C methods. The A and
B methods are for small, simply supported specimens. The
C method is a pure-moment test for large panels and is
conducted on special testing machines that apply pure
bending moments to a full-size plywood sheet. The 22
plywood samples were tested using the C method. For this
purpose, a testing apparatus was designed and fabricated
that produced pure bending in the middle part of a plywood
sample. The test apparatus is shown in Figure 1. The
apparatus consisted of a metal frame supporting two 1.8 m
(6 ft) long metal pipes that supported the plywood sample.
Two equal loads were applied to the plywood sample by
employing two hydraulic jacks. The jacks were on the
longitudinal axis of the plywood and symmetrical about the
plywood center. Two metal pipes distributed the applied
loads over the width of the sample. The applied loads were
measured using two load cells attached to a computerized
 Structural properties
Figure 2 Test apparatus for determining interlaminer
data acquisition system. Figure 1 also shows a device used
for measuring the plywood panel midordinate, defined as
the mid-span deflection of the sample with respect to a line
between two points equidistant from the mid-span and just
inside the two applied loads. The midordinate was
measured using a deflection transducer, also connected to
the data acquisition system. The load was applied to each
sample at a continuous rate to produce the rotation rate
specified by ASTM 3043-87* at the supported ends of each
sample. The samples failed 2.5-5 min after the loading
started. Since the moisture content of all samples at the
time of test were above 16%, they were considered to be in
wet condition3.
The current ASTM standards for the determination of
plywood interlaminar shear properties is very costly and
time consuming. In this study, a five-point bending test4
was used for determining the sample’s interlaminar shear
strength. This method is under consideration for adoption
by the ASTM. Figure 2 shows the test apparatus used for
this purpose. The test apparatus consisted of three equally
spaced rollers on spindles that functioned as the support
system for the samples. A sample was loaded at the
midspan of each of the two spans. The midspan loads were
applied through the use of a double-footed yoke. The load
applied to the yoke and the displacements at the middle of
each span were measured and recorded by a data
acquisition system.
Bending stiffness
The method of loading the samples for determining the
bending stiffness is shown schematically in Figure 3. The
plywood sheets were tested for full-size with the face grain
of used plywood: S. Karshenas and J. P. Feely 555
shear strength
:’
Dcllecllon Transducer
11
Figure 3 Load arrangement for determining bending stiffness (face grain
perpendicular to span direction)
parallel to the span. The bending stiffness of each sample,
EIII, was determined using the following formula recom-
mended by ASTM 3043-87*
EIll = MR (1)
where EI,I is in N m* (lb in*), M = bending moment in N m
(lb in), and R = panel radius of curvature in m (in)
corresponding to the moment M. The radius of curvature
was calculated as follows*
in which L = chord length for measuring the panel
midordinate in m (in) as shown in Figure 3, d = panel
midordinate in m (in), defined as the deflection in the
middle of the panel relative to the two points, and S =
distance between a plywood support and the closest load to
the support in m (in). Samples were tested with span =
2.1 m (84 in), S = 0.3 m (12 in), and L = 0.76 m (30 in).
Figure 4 shows a histogram of the observed full-panel
bending stiffnesses. The mean and COV of the observed
bending stiffnesses (stress applied parallel to the face grain)
are 2849 N m2 m-l (303 K in* ftt’) and 0.2, respectively.
556 Structural properties of used plywood: S. Karshenas and J. P, Fee/y

06i 06r
Mean=2820N-mzim
Mean=2849 Nd/m
cov=o.15
cov = 0.2
05C

Bending Stifikess, N-m’/m

1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

Bending Stiffness. N.m’/m Figure 6 A histogram of observed bending stiffnesses for half-size sheets
(face grain parallel to span direction)
Figure 4 A histogram of observed bending stiffness for full-size sheets
(face grain parallel to span direction)
T
2,500

To determine the bending strengths of the full-size

plywood samples, they were loaded in bending until failure.
All full-panel failures occurred in the middle part of the
panels. After the bending failure, the two half panels left
from each plywood sheet were also tested in bending, one
with the face grain parallel to the span direction and the
other with the face grain perpendicular to the span
direction. The frequency diagrams of the observed bending
stiffnesses for the half-panel samples are shown in
Figures 5 and 6. As Figure 5 shows, the mean and COV
of the stiffnesses observed for the half panels tested with
the face grain perpendicular to the span direction are
.
1593 N m2 rn-’ (169 K in2 ft ‘) and 0.15, respectively. As I I

shown in Figure 6, the mean and COV of the bending 1,000 1,500 2,000 2.500 3,000 3,500 4,000
stiffnesses observed for the half panels tested with the face ~illl~.~llCY~l I:‘I, , /Y./J1
2/,,,
grain parallel to the span direction are 2820 N m2 m ’
Figure 7 Observed bending stiffness (face grain parallel and perpendi-
(300 K in2 ft ‘) and 0.15, respectively. The mean value of
cular to span directions)
the stiffnesses observed for the full-panel tests is very close
to that observed for the half panels tested with the face
grain parallel to the span direction. This shows that the words, the bending failure of a plywood sheet does not
half-panel bending stiffnesses have not been significantly seem to result in significant hidden damages in the
affected by the bending failure of the full panels. In other remaining half panels.
A scatter plot of the corresponding bending stiffnesses in
04 the parallel and perpendicular to face grain directions is
Mean = 1593 N ,,,:I,,, shown in Figure 7. The value of ? (0.05) was calculated
COV=OI5
from a regression analysis of the data. This shows that there
is no strong correlation between the observed bending
stiffnesses in the parallel and perpendicular to the face
grain directions.
A quantitative analysis of the observed bending
stiffnesses showed that the normal distribution best
represents the data. Table I shows the K-S statistics for
normal, lognormal, and Weibull distributions. Figure 8

Table 1 K-S statistics for observed El,

Distribution K-S statistics Significance level

iooo 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250
Normal 0.14 0.73
Bending Stiffness, N.nl/m
Lognormal 0.18 0.45
Weibull U 0.17 0.5 1
Figure 5 A histogram of observed bending stiffness for half-size sheets
(face grain perpendicular to span direction) ” Two-parameter distribution
 Structural properties of used plywood: S. Karshenas and J. P. Feely 557

The mean value of the observed stiffnesses are over 1.5

and 2.5 times the APA design values for face grain parallel
and perpendicular to the span directions, respectively.

Z 80'

8
&
70
T . ’
Ultimate bending moment capacity
. A center-load flexure test was used for determining the
+-
ultimate bending strengths of the samples. The ultimate
. bending strength was calculated as follows

/ where M = ultimate bending moment in N m (lb in), P =

1 C~_ ~_ ~~_~~ ,~~~*~~-*-- ,~ +_ . ____,
1000 1500 2000 2500 3doo 3500 4000 maximum transverse load applied to the sample in N (lb),
and L = span length in m (in). The mean and COV of the
Bending Stiffness, N.m*/m
observed ultimate bending moments for face grain parallel
Figure 8 Observed bending stiffnesses (face gram parallel to span to the span direction are 1167 N m m-l of plywood width
direction, on a normal probablity scale)
(3149 lb in ft-‘) and 0.29, respectively. Figure 9 shows a
full sheet after failure in bending. An investigation of
shows the observed bending stiffnesses for stress, parallel various probability models showed that normal distribution
to the span direction, plotted on a normal probability scale. best represents the observed bending strength data. The K-
The stiffnesses recommended by the APA - for design S statistics determined for normal, lognormal, and Weibull
purposes for the 16 mm (5/8 in) thick Structural I plywood distributions are shown in Table 2. Figure 10 shows the
with species group of face ply 1, grade stress level S-2, in observed data on a normal probability scale.
wet condition and for normal duration of load - are3:

Applied stress Bending stiffness Table 2 K-S statistics for observed bending strength (stress parallel to
face grain)
Parallel to face grain EIll = (10.3 GPa)x(O.l77x lo@ m4/m)
Distribution K-S statistics Significance level
= 1823 N m2 m-‘or (1500 ksi)
x(0.131 in4 ft-‘) = 196 K in2 ft-’ Normal 0.12 0.89
Lognormal 0.18 0.47
Perpendicular to face EII = (10.3 GPa)x (0.061 x 1O-6 m4 m-l)
Weibull a 0.13 0.84
grain = 628 N m2 m-l or (1500 ksi)
x(0.045 in4 fi-‘) = 67 K in2 ft-’ a Two-parameter distribution

Figure 9 A plywood sheet after failure in bending (stress applied parallel to face grain)
558 Structural properties of used plywood: S. Karshenas and J. P. Fee/y

99

Mean = 1167 Nm/m .

COV = 0.29
.
90
.
.
2s 80 I

3 70 .
.

.
CL 60 .

.g 50 .
.

r= 40 .

% .

g 30 .

.
& 20 .
.
10

1 + .~__~-+ ~._~~~ * ~~ , ____------+_-__.._~._,_~_~

0 500 lob0 1500 2600

Ultimate Bending Moment, Nm/m

Figure 10 Observed ultimate bending moments (face grain parallel to span direction. on a normal probability scale)

Table 3 K-S statistics for observed bending strength (stress perpendi- where Fb = allowable stress in bending and KS = effective
cular to face grain)
section modulus. The mean value of the observed bending
Distribution K-S statistics Significance level strengths is 7.5 times the recommended design value for
Normal 0.16 0.58 face grain parallel to the span direction, and 11.5 times the
Lognormal 0.14 0.8 I recommended design value for face grain perpendicular to
Weibull” 0.16 0.58
the span direction.
” Two-parameter distribution A scatter plot of the observed bending capacities for face
grain parallel to the span direction versus the corresponding
As mentioned above, one of the half panels left after bending capacities for face grain perpendicular to the span
bending failure of a full sheet was tested to failure in direction is shown in Figure 12. A regression analysis of the
bending with the face grain perpendicular to the span. The data showed ?=0.06. This shows that for the collected
half-panel samples were also tested using a center-load samples, the two bending capacities are not strongly
flexure test. The mean and COV of the observed bending correlated.
capacities are 1179 N m m-l (3183 lb in ft-‘) and 0.24, Figure 13 shows a scatter diagram of the observed
respectively. Figure 1 I shows a half-panel sample after bending stiffnesses and the corresponding bending capa-
failure in bending with the face grain perpendicular to the cities for the samples tested with the face grain parallel to
span. An investigation of the observed bending strength the span. The figure shows that there is a positive
data showed that the lognormal distribution best represents correlation between the plywood bending stiffness and
the data. Table 3 shows the K-S statistics for normal, bending strength. The linear regression analysis was used to
lognormal, and Weibull distributions. obtain the following equation
The bending capacities recommended by the APA - for
k,, = 0.48 (EI),, - 210 (4)
Structural I sanded plywood, species group of face ply 1,
grade stress level S-2, in wet condition for normal load where k,, = predicted moment capacity in N m m ’ and
duration - are: EIil = bending stiffness in N m2 m-‘; both for face grain
Applied stress Bending strength parallel to the span direction. The standard error of estimate
for the regression equation is 207 N m rn-’ with r*=0.66.
Parallel to face Fb x KSll = (8 MPa)x(19.4x10-6 m” mm’) Linear regression analysis was also used to obtain the
grain = 155 N m m-‘or (1 190 psi) following equation between the observed bending capa-
x(0.361 in3 ft-‘) = 429 lb in ft-’ cities and the corresponding stiffnesses for face grain
Perpendicular to FbxKSl = (8 MPa)x(12.8x10-6m3 m-l) perpendicular to the span direction
face grain = 102Nmm~‘or (119Opsi)
x(0.238 in’ ft..‘) = 283 lb in ft ’ & = 0.74 (EI), - 8.3 (5)
 Structural properties of used plywood: S. Karshenas and J. P. Fee/y 559

Figul P 11 A half sample : after failure in bending (stress applied perpendicular to face grain)

in which fi, = predicted bending capacity in N m m-l,
and EIl = bending stiffness in N m2 m-‘; both for face
grain perpendicular to the span direction. The standard
error of estimate for the regression equation is
240 N m m-l with ?=0.36. The low 3 values for the
above regression equations show that the bending strength
of plywood cannot be reliably estimated from bending
stiffness only.
Moment of inertia
After the flexural experiments were completed, a small
piece was cut from each plywood sheet for determining
their ply thicknesses. The ply thicknesses were measured in
both parallel and perpendicular to the face grain directions
using a traveling microscope.
The transverse plies of each sheet are expected to
contribute little to the strength or stiffness of the plywood.
However, the computation of the moment of inertia does
not neglect them entirely. For calculating the bending
strength when stress is applied perpendicular to the face
grain, the tensile face ply is considered to be completely
ineffective and is therefore ignored. The effective moment
of inertia calculations were done using the parallel axis
theorem and a transformed cross section for transverse
plies. The transformed cross sectional area was l/35 of the
ply’s actual cross sectional area. This is because, the actual
modulus of elasticity of the peeled wood veneer perpendi-
cular to the grain is about l/35 of that of its parallel
modulus3.
The observed plywood thicknesses ranged 15.52-
16.50 mm (0.61-10.65 in), with mean and COV equal to
16 mm (0.63 in) and 0.01, respectively. The moments of
inertia determined for cross sections perpendicular to the
face grain had a mean value of 228,560 mm4 m-l
(0.17 in4 ft-‘) and COV equal to 0.09. The mean and
COV of the moments of inertia determined for the cross
sections parallel to face grain were 96,030 mm4 m-l
(0.07 in4 ft-‘) and 0.1, respectively. The design moments
of inertia specified by the APA for the 16 mm (5/8 in) thick,
sanded plywood are:
560

E 1,600
: A
E A t
2 A
A A
A A
A

A
.: ’ A
A
800 -’ A
A
A

400 c- t -_$’
400 1,600 2,000 2,400

Figure 12 Observed ultimate bending moments (face grain parallel and perpendicular to span directions)

Applied stress Moment of inertia

TX- 33P (6)
64bd
Parallel to face grain 178,892 mm4m-’ in4 ftC’)
(0.131
where T = interlaminar shear strength in P (psi), P =
Perpendicular to face grain 61,454 mm4 rn-’ (0.045 in4 ft ‘)
ultimate load in N (lb), b = sample width in m (in), and d =
The mean values of the observed moments of inertia are sample depth in m (in). The observed interlaminar shear
1.28 and 1.56 times the recommended design values for the strengths of the samples tested with the face grain parallel
cross sections perpendicular and parallel to the face grain, to the span had mean and COV equal to 1.85 MPa (268 psi)
respectively. and 0.2, respectively. For the samples tested with the face
grain perpendicular to span, the observed interlaminar shear
Interlaminar shear strength strengths had a mean value of 1.56 MPa (227 psi) with a
COVof 0.19. The design rolling shear specified by the APA
As mentioned above, a five-point bending test conducted on for Structural I plywood in wet condition for normal load
a symmetric, two-span, continuous beam is used for duration is 0.4 MPa (63 psi). The mean values of the
determining the interlaminar shear strength of the samples. observed interlaminar shear strengths for face grain parallel
From each plywood panel, a 50 mmx527 mm (2 inx and perpendicular to the span directions are 4.6 and 3.9
20.7 in) sample with the face grain parallel to the 527 mm times the recommended design values, respectively.
side and a 50 mmx432 mm (2 inx 17 in) sample with the The normal probability model best represents both sets
face grain perpendicular to the 432 mm side were obtained. of shear strength data. Tables 4 and 5 show K-S statistics
The samples’ sizes were selected according to the for normal, lognormal, and Weibull distributions. Figure 15
recommendations by Bateman et al.4 A schematic diagram
of the loading method is shown in Figure 14. The span Table 4 K-S statistics for observed bending strength (stress perpendi-
cular to face grain)
length (L in Figure 14) was 238 mm (9.4 in) for samples
tested with the face grain parallel to the span, and 190 mm Distribution K-S statistics Significance level
(7.5 in) for samples tested with the face grain perpendicular Normal 0.12 0.89
to the span. Each sample was loaded until failure and their Lognormal 0.10 0.98
interlaminar shear strength were determined using the Weibull (1 0.13 0.85

following formula4 ” Two-parameter distribution

 Structuralproperties of used plywood: S. Karshenasand J. P. Fee/y 561

1,600

1
I I1 I I 1
2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000

Bending Stiffhess, N.m2 /m

Figure 13 Observed ultimate bending moments vs corresponding bending stiffnesses (face grain parallel to span)

Table 5 K-S statistics for observed shear strength (stress perpendicular to develop the resistance models necessary for the
to face grain)
investigation of safety of the current concrete forming
Distribution K-S statistics Significance level practices, 22 concrete slab formwork plywood sheets were
Normal 0.08 1.0 collected from two concrete construction sites in Milwau-
Lognormal 0.10 0.98 kee, Wisconsin. The samples were randomly selected. The
Weibull ’ 0.09 0.99
grade mark of 20 samples were not legible due to re-use
LITwo-parameter distribution and weathering. Two samples with legible grade marks

v
PI2 PI2 were Structural I B-B Exterior plywood. All samples were
1.2 mx2.4 m (4 ftx 8 ft), seven-ply, 16 mm (5/8 in) thick.
None of the contractors could specify the number of re-use
of the samples. All samples had a number of nail holes on
their surfaces. No major delamination was observed in the
samples. Seven samples were in worse physical condition
than the rest; there were crushed edges, damaged face plies,
and slightly delaminated areas around the edges of these
samples.
Figure 14 Loading method for determining interlaminar shear strength The observed plywood thicknesses ranged 15.5-
16.5 mm (0.63-0.61 in) with mean and COV equal to
shows the observed interlaminar shear strength data for face 16 mm (0.63 in) and 0.01, respectively. The moments of
grain parallel to the span direction plotted on a normal inertia determined for the cross sections perpendicular to
probability scale. Figure 16 shows several samples after the face grain had a mean value equal to 228,560 mm4 m-l
failure in shear. (0.17 in4 ft-‘) and a COV equal to 0.09. The mean and
COV of the moments of inertia determined for cross
sections parallel to the face grain were 96,030 mm4 m-l
Summary and conclusions
(0.07 in4 ftt ‘) and 0.1, respectively.
Concrete slab formwork systems usually consist of All strength and stiffness experiments were conducted
members that have been re-used several times. In an effort on samples in wet condition (moisture content greater than
562 Structural properties of used plywood: S. Karshenas and J. P. Fee/y

~~~~_~ ~~,~~~~~~_~_,
I

I 5 ; 2.5 3

lnterlaminar Shear Strength, MPa

Figure 15 Observed interlaminar shear strength data (face grain parallel to span direction)

Figure 16 Four samples failed in five-point shear test

16%). The full-size sheets (1.2 mx2.4 m) were tested in A five-point test was used to determine the interlaminar
bending with the face grain parallel to the span direction. shear strength of the samples. The observed shear strengths
After failure of a full-size sheet, one of the remaining for face grain parallel to the span direction had mean and
pieces was also tested in bending, but with the face grain COV equal to 1.85 MPa (268 psi) and 0.2. respectively. For
perpendicular to the span direction. The observed bending the samples tested with the face grain perpendicular to the
stiffnesses and bending strengths were as follows span direction. the observed interlaminar shear strengths
had a mean value equai to 1.56 MPa (227 psi) with a COV
of 0.19.
Applied stress relative to span direction
Probability distributions that best represent the
Parallel
observed plywood structural properties were inves-
Property f’erpendicula1
tigated. Normal distribution provided the best fit for the
Bending stiffness Mean 2X49 I593 observed stiffnesses, the observed bending strengths for
Nm’/m _’ cov 0.7 0.15 face grain parallel to the span direction, and the observed
Bending strength Mean 1167 1179 interlaminar shear strength data. Lognormal distribution
Nm/m-’ cov 0.29 0.24 provided the best fit to the observed ultimate bending
 Structural properties of used plywood: S. Karshenas and J. P. Fee/y 563

moments for face grain perpendicular to the span 2 Standard Methods of Testing Structural Panels in Flexure, ASTM Vol.
4.09. D3043-87, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1991.
direction.
3 Plywood Design Specifications. APA, Tacoma, Washington, 1986.
4 Bateman, J. H., Hunt, M. 0. and Sun, C. T., New interlaminar shear
Acknowledgements test for structural wood composites. Forest Pmduct Journal, 1990,
40(3), 9-14.
This study was sponsored in part by the National Science 5 Hunt, M. 0. and Mattison, D. A., Structural characteristics of
Foundation under Grant MSM-900257 1. The authors would weathered plywood. ASCE Journal of the Structural Division, 1976,
102(4), 759-768.
like to thank Dr. Keith Faherty for his helpful suggestions
6 Karshenas, Saeed and Walsh, Susan, Variability of structural proper-
and guidance during laboratory experiments.
ties of used formwork joists. Building Research Journal, 1995,
ST4( 1). 5 l-62.
7 Karshenas, Saeed and Mizian, I., An investigation of structural
References
properties of used formwork stringers. ASCE Journal of Materials in
1 Recommended Practice for Concrete Formwork. AC1 347R-88, Civil Engineering, 1996, S(l), 51-56.
American Concrete Institute Committee 347, Detroit, Michigan, 8 Karshenas, Saeed and Montes l&era, D., Experimental investigation
1988. of performance of wood formwork shores. in the press.