Standard Test Method for
The toughness of Wood-Based Structural Panels1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 3499; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of the last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method for the toughness of wood-based structural
panels cover the determination of energy necessary to cause
failure by impact loading of a beam specimen which is simply
supported and loaded at midspan. Wood-based structural panels in use include plywood, wafer board, oriented strand board,
and composites of veneer and of wood-based layers.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 143 Method of Testing Small Clear Specimens of Timber2
D 2395 Test Methods for Specific Gravity of Wood and
Wood-Base Materials2
D 4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Base Materials2
3. Significance and Use
3.1 The failure of wood-based materials with impact loads
is sometimes an important criterion in design considerations. In
addition, some effects on the mechanical properties of wood,
such as decay, are best evaluated by measuring their toughness.
This test method serves to evaluate the toughness of structural
panel products while Methods D 143 can be used to measure
the toughness of solid clear wood specimens.
4. Apparatus
4.1 The toughness testing machine (Note 1) shall consist of
a frame supporting a pendulum, being so arranged that a
a measured amount of the energy from the fall of the pendulum
may be applied to a test specimen. The pendulum shall consist
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