Wood as an Engineering Material
If you’re looking for a complete compendium on all things wood related, then The Wood Handbook may be just what you’re looking for. Subtitled “Wood as an Engineering Material”, this encyclopedia of wood knowledge was written by the USDA Forest Products Division, based in Madison, WI. Best of all, the material is available as a free download, either chapter by chapter or the entire book as a very large PDF file.
- Laboratory, Forest Products (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 508 Pages - 04/30/2013 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
We have included the updated 2010 version of The Wood Handbook below as a convenient and easy way to download the relevant chapters in a PDF format. Along with each chapter download link, we have added the chapter title and a brief overview of topics from the chapter to give you an idea of what each one covers. This way you can access or download just those parts that interest you.
The Wood Handbook includes sections on engineering with wood, timber resources, the structure of wood, physical properties and moisture content of wood, designing with wood, the mechanical properties of wood, wood fastenings, composites, working with round timbers and ties and much more.
First issued in 1935, The Wood Handbook is considered the preeminent source of information on wood and wood products. Anyone who works with wood will find this one of the most useful books you can own.
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The Wood Handbook
Front matter (Preface, Acknowledgments, Contributors) (PDF 547 KB)
Chapter 1: Wood as a Sustainable Building Material (PDF 464 KB)Timber Resources and UsesSpecies DescriptionsU.S. Wood SpeciesImported Woods
Chapter 2: Characteristics and Availability of Commercially Important Wood (PDF 2.4 MB)Timber Resources and UsesSpecies DescriptionsU.S. Wood SpeciesImported Woods
Chapter 3: Structure of Wood (PDF 1.2 MB)Bark, Wood, Branches, and CambiumSapwood and HeartwoodGrowth RingsWood CellsChemical CompositionSpecies Identification
Chapter 4: Physical Properties and Moisture Relations of Wood (PDF 1.4 MB)AppearanceMoisture ContentShrinkageWeight, Density, and Specific GravityWorking QualitiesDecay ResistanceThermal PropertiesElectrical PropertiesCoefficient of FrictionNuclear Radiation
Chapter 5: Mechanical Properties of Wood (PDF 2.2 MB)Orthotropic Nature of WoodElastic PropertiesStrength PropertiesVibration PropertiesMechanical Properties of Clear Straight-Grained WoodNatural Characteristics Affecting Mechanical PropertiesEffects of Manufacturing and Service Environments
Chapter 6: Commercial Lumber (PDF 1.1 MB)Hardwood LumberSoftwood LumberPurchase of LumberCommonly Used Lumber Abbreviations
Chapter 7: Lumber Stress Grades and Design Properties (PDF 1.0 MB)Responsibilities and Standards for Stress GradingVisually Graded Structural LumberMachine-Graded Structural LumberAdjustment of Properties for Design Use
Chapter 8: Fastenings (PDF 1.7 MB)NailsSpikesStaplesDrift BoltsWood ScrewsLag ScrewsBoltsConnector JointsMultiple-Fastener JointsMetal Plate ConnectorsFastener Head Embedment
Chapter 9: Structural Analysis Equations (PDF 1.2 MB)Deformation EquationsStress EquationsStability Equations
Chapter 10: Adhesive Bonding of Wood Materials (PDF 1.1 MB)Adhesion to WoodSurface Properties of Wood AdherendsPhysical Properties of Wood AdherendsAdhesivesBonding ProcessBonded JointsTesting and Performance
Chapter 11: Wood-Based Composites and Panel Products (PDF 1.8MKB)ScopeTypes of Conventional Composite MaterialsAdhesive ConsiderationsAdditivesGeneral Manufacturing IssuesStandards for Wood-Based PanelsPlywoodParticle and Fiber CompositesWood-Nonwood Composites
Chapter 12: Glued Structural Members (PDF 543 KB)Structural Composite LumberGlulamGlued Members With Lumber and PanelsStructural Sandwich Construction
Chapter 13: Drying and Control of Moisture Content and Dimensional Changes (PDF 1.6 MB)Determination of Moisture ContentRecommended Moisture ContentDrying of WoodMoisture Control During Transit and StorageDimensional Changes in WoodDesign Factors Affecting Dimensional ChangeWood Care and Installation During Construction
Chapter 14: Biodeterioration of Wood (PDF 958 KB)Fungus Damage and ControlBacteriaInsect Damage and ControlMarine Borer Damage and Control
Chapter 15: Wood Preservation (PDF 1.0 MB)Wood PreservativesPreservative EffectivenessEffect of Species on PenetrationPreparation of Timber for TreatmentApplication of PreservativesHandling and Seasoning of Timber After TreatmentQuality Assurance for Treated Wood
Chapter 16: Finishing of Wood (PDF 1.7 MB)Factors Affecting Finish PerformanceControl of Water or Moisture in WoodTypes of Exterior Wood FinishesApplication of Wood FinishesFinish Failure or DiscolorationFinishing of Interior WoodFinishes for Items Used for FoodWood Cleaners and BrightenersPaint StrippersLead-Based Paint 15-35
Chapter 17: Use of Wood In Building and Bridges (PDF 1.0 MB)Light-Frame BuildingsPost-Frame and Pole BuildingsLog BuildingsHeavy Timber BuildingsTimber BridgesConsiderations for Wood Buildings
Chapter 18: Fire Safety (PDF 1.1 MB)Fire Safety Design and EvaluationFire Performance Characteristics of WoodFlame-Retardant Treatments
Chapter 19: Round Timbers and Ties (PDF 550 KB)Standards and SpecificationsMaterial RequirementsAvailabilityFormWeight and VolumeDurabilityStrength Properties
Chapter 20: Specialty Treatments (PDF 904 KB)Plasticizing WoodModified WoodsPaper-Based Plastic Laminates
Glossary (PDF 404 KB)
Index (PDF 1.0MKB)
Front Cover (PDF 216 KB)
Back Cover (PDF 222 KB)
You may order a printed copy of this entire publication from the Forest Products Society.
The research institution of over 200 scientists at Forest Products Laboratory has provided us with The Wood Handbook -- an indispensable reference work for millions of people world-wide who are woodworkers, design engineers, builders, architects and designers. Check out The Wood Handbook for a complete understanding of wood as an engineering material.
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