Duration-of-load and creep effects in strand-based wood composite: experimental research

The results from a duration-of-load and creep testing program on a thick strand-based composite product, using wood from forests attacked by the mountain pine beetle, are presented. The constant loading of experimental beams lasted for 1?year. The long-term deflection was monitored and recorded at a pre-set frequency. Time-to-failure data were also obtained for all the broken specimens. Ramp load test was carried out at different rates of loading to investigate its influence on short-term strength. Finally, the fatigue test was conducted with a triangular cyclic load history, and the strain history was obtained to elucidate the low-cycle fatigue behavior of the composite.