ASTM D3499-94

Standard Test Method for Toughness of Wood-Based Structural Panels

SCOPE
1.1 This test method for toughness of wood-based structural panels covers the determination of energy necessary to cause failure by impact loading of a beam specimen which is simply supported and loaded at midspan. Wood-based structural panels in use include plywood, waferboard, oriented strand board, and composites of veneer and of wood-based layers.  
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1999
• Technical Committee: D07 - Wood
• Drafting Committee: D07.03 - Panel Products

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D3499-94(2000) - Standard Test Method for Toughness of Wood-Based Structural Panels
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2000

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 3499 – 94
Standard Test Method for
Toughness of Wood-Based Structural Panels
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3499; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope passing over the drum. A stationary graduated scale or dial and
a vernier operated by the moving drum shall be provided for
1.1 This test method for toughness of wood-based structural
reading the angles through which the pendulum swings. The
panels covers the determination of energy necessary to cause
machine shall be adjusted before test so that the pendulum
failure by impact loading of a beam specimen which is simply
hangs truly vertical and adjusted to correct for friction. The
supported and loaded at midspan. Wood-based structural pan-
cable shall be adjusted so that the load is applied to the
els in use include plywood, waferboard, oriented strand board,
specimen when the pendulum swings to within approximately
and composites of veneer and of wood-based layers.
15° of the vertical so as to produce complete failure by the time
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
the downward swing is completed.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
NOTE 1—The set-up shown in Fig. 1 has been found to give satisfactory
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- results.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Test Specimen
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 The toughness test specimen to be used in conjunction
2.1 ASTM Standards: with the Forest Products Laboratory toughness testing machine
5 5
D 143 Method of Testing Small Clear Specimens of Tim- shall be ⁄8 in. (16 mm) in width for material less than ⁄8 in. (16
ber mm) in thickness, and the thickness of the specimen shall be
D 2395 Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Wood and equal to that of the material. For material more than ⁄8 in. (16
Wood-Base Materials mm) in thickness, the width shall be equal to the thickness of
D 4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measure- the material, thus making the specimen square in cross section.
ment of Wood and Wood-Base Materials The length shall be determined from the thickness of the
material in accordance with Table 1. The actual cross-sectional
3. Significance and Use
dimensions, and the specimen and span length shall be mea-
3.1 The failure of wood-based materials with impact loads
sured to an accuracy of not less than 60.3 % or 0.001 in. (0.02
is sometimes an important criteria in design considerations. In mm) whichever is larger.
addition, some effects on the mechanical properties of wood,
6. Control of Moisture
such as decay, are best evaluated by measuring its toughness.
This test method serves to evaluate the toughness of structural 6.1 Panel specimens to be tested at specific moisture con-
panel products while Methods D 143 can be used to measure tents or after reaching equilibrium moisture content at specific
the toughness of solid clear wood specimens. temperature and relative humidity conditions shall be condi-
tioned to approximate constant weight in controlled atmo-
4. Apparatus
spheric conditions. For approximating moisture conditions of
4.1 The toughness testing machine (Note 1) shall consist of panels used under dry conditions, a relative humidity of 65 6
a frame supporting a pendulum, being so arranged that a
2 % at a temperature of 68 6 6°F (20 6 3°C) is recommended.
measured amount of the energy from the fall of the pendulum
7. Span and Supports
may be applied to a test specimen. The pendulum shall consist
of a bar to which is fastened a weight adjustable to different 7.1 The test specimen shall be supported as a beam on two
positions and shall carry at its upper end a drum or pulley vertical pins, which exert reactions that are perpendicular to the
whose center provides the axis of rotation. The force shall be plane of the panels or laminations. These pins shall be adjusted
applied to the specimen by means of a flexible steel cable to the span length taken from Table 1 which provides for a
specimen overhang of 1 in. (25 mm) at each end.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-7 on Wood
8. Loading Procedure
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.03 on Panel Products.
Current edition approved July 15, 1994. Published September 1994. Originally
8.1 Apply the load at the center of the span perpendicular to
published as D 3499 – 76. Last previous edition D 3499 – 76 (1986).
the plane of the plies. Apply the load through a tup, attached to
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