Compression Behavior and Material Parameters of Radiata Pine at Different Orientations to the Grain

For investigations using finite-element methods, e.g., connection details under compression stresses, one needs to know not only the compression strength, but also the complete stress-strain behavior, including the hardening of the wood for all directions. Up to now, only a limited amount of information is available for corresponding values and data for New Zealand Radiata Pine. To gather this missing information, comprehensive compression tests were carried out at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. This includes different load-to-grain angles as well as different load-to-annual ring directions. The results are presented and provided in this paper. According to the different testing standards, including different test methods and different evaluation methods, the tests were done using different loading configurations. Both the stress-strain behavior, including softening or hardening parts, as well as the material properties, using different evaluation methods, are analyzed and described. The test results are also compared with the currently used material strength values of the New Zealand design standard. The presented results and information are a comprehensive basis for future research, especially numerical investigations, and can also serve authors of design codes.