Flexural Creep Apparatus and Testing for Structural Composite Lumber

A specification to test and evaluate the flexural creep and duration of load effects for structural wood-based products was finalized as ASTM D 6815-02. The test method requires relatively large forces be sustained for at least 90 days. Further, the test is conducted in an environment that is moisture and temperature controlled. The typical apparatus for this test uses weights and ratio pulleys, but the heavy loads make loading and unloading difficult and potentially dangerous and the footprint must be large enough to provide space for lifting. This paper describes an apparatus that requires a minimum of floor space and uses hydraulic loading so that it is safer to load and unload. Operation and typical data for the test are used to demonstrate the specification and the apparatus. Copyright © 2007 by ASTM International,