Wood and Timber

Question 1

What is glulam made of?

Answer 1

Small pieces of timber glued together to form a big composite piece

Question 2

What is the main difference between carpenter ants and termites?

Answer 2

1. Termites eat wood whereas carpenter ants do not eat wood
2. Carpenter ants make their nests inside wood

Question 3

Why does wood exhibit anisotropic properties when it comes to resisting loads? In what principal direction
and loading condition (Compression or Tension) does wood perform the best?

Answer 3

1. Because the microstructure of wood is oriented in the longitudinal direction leading to better mechanical properties in that direction
2. Wood performs best in tension along the grain (longitudinal) whereas it performs poorly against the grain in tension and in compression
3. Tension with the grain > Compression with the grain > Compression against the grain = Tension against the grain