Bending tests on chestnut defect free specimen

The paper presents the results of an experimental activity which includes destructive tests (DT) in bending on defect free elements made of old chestnut wood. The activity is developed in the framework of the Italian project DPC-RELUIS with the aim to provide a procedure for in situ mechanical identification of ancient timber members by means of non-destructive techniques and to define standardized guidelines to be used for practical applications. Thirty-five squared specimens, 2x2x40 cm sized, were extracted by five elements in actual dimensions (seven from each elements), the latter ones used in a previous tests campaign. In the experimental activity, hygrometric tests were employed to estimate wood moisture content. Destructive tests in bending were performed according to UNI EN 408 (2004) standard in order to assess stiffness and strength properties, post-elastic behaviour and collapse mechanisms of chestnut timber. In this work the test results are presented and critically analysed, for evaluating the influence of defects patterns on timber mechanical behaviour and examining the scale effect on wood. The obtained results are part of an extensive database, which will be used for the achievement of the research main purposes.