A study on the effect of loading methods (central and two-point) on the bending properties of panel products

Abstract

Investigations were carried out to study the effect of loading methods viz. central and two-point loading on bending properties of panel products made from wood and bamboo viz. plywood, bamboo mat board (BMB) and bamboo mat veneer composite (BMVC). Panel products of different thicknesses were tested under central and two-point bending for evaluating modulus of rupture (MoR) and modulus of elasticity (MoE). The results revealed that there is a reduction of 3–6% in MoE and increase of 6–10% in MoR values for plywood, whereas a reduction of 8–12% in MoE and increase of 6–10% in MoR values for BMVC was observed, when tested by using two-point loading as compared to central loading method of bending test. Whereas, two-point loading test method is not relevant for flexible panel products like BMB and the values of MoR and MoE obtained by central and two-point loading test methods are not comparable.