ISO 13061-3-2014 amd1-2017 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 13061-3-2014 amd1-2017 — Physical and mechanical properties of wood — Test methods for small clear wood specimens — Part 3: Determination of ultimate strength in static bending (with Amendment 1, 2017). This document specifies a laboratory method for measuring the ultimate bending strength (modulus of rupture) of small, clear (defect-free) wood specimens by applying a breaking load at mid-span to a simply supported beam.

Abstract

ISO 13061-3:2014 defines the test procedure, specimen preparation and conditioning, apparatus set-up and test execution for determining the ultimate strength of wood in static bending using small clear specimens. Amendment 1 (2017) provides editorial and/or technical corrections or clarifications to the original 2014 text. The method yields the breaking load and the calculated bending strength (MOR) under controlled environmental and loading conditions.

General information

• Status: Published (international standard with amendment).
• Publication date: ISO 13061-3:2014 — 15 December 2014; Amendment 1 — June 2017 (Amendment published/issued during 2017).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO), technical committee ISO/TC 218 (Timber).
• ICS / categories: 79.040 (Wood, sawlogs and sawn timber).
• Edition / version: ISO 13061-3:2014 (Edition 1) with Amendment 1:2017.
• Number of pages: ISO 13061-3:2014 — 5 pages; Amendment 1:2017 — 1 page.

Scope

This part of ISO 13061 applies to small clear (defect-free) wood specimens and specifies the method for determining ultimate strength in static bending. The test is carried out on a simply supported beam with the load applied at mid-span; it covers specimen selection and preparation, conditioning to specified moisture content, test-machine and loading-head requirements, test speed and procedure for recording failure load and calculating bending strength. The standard is intended for laboratory material characterization, comparison of species/treatments and quality control of timber and wood products.

Key topics and requirements

• Specimen selection and preparation: use of small clear specimens without visible defects and prepared to recommended dimensions and grain orientation.
• Conditioning and moisture control: specimens to be conditioned to the specified equilibrium moisture content (see related parts of ISO 13061, especially Part 1 for moisture determination).
• Test arrangement: simply supported beam with centrally applied load at mid-span; appropriate supports, loading heads and contact radii to avoid local crushing.
• Loading rate and duration: controlled, constant-rate loading so that failure occurs within a specified time window (ensuring comparability and repeatability).
• Calculation and reporting: determination of breaking load and calculation of ultimate bending strength (modulus of rupture, MOR), with requirements for reporting specimen dimensions, moisture content, span length, test speed and any deviations.
• Precision and repeatability considerations: guidance on number of specimens, statistical treatment and presentation of results for laboratory comparison and material characterization.
• Normative references and cross-references: references to other ISO 13061 parts (e.g., moisture content and density methods) and to terminology standards used in test reporting.

Typical use and users

This standard is used by materials testing laboratories, university and research groups, timber and engineered-wood product manufacturers, product certification bodies and standards organizations. Typical applications include species comparison, assessment of treatment or processing effects on bending strength, inputs to design data sets, quality-control testing and research into wood mechanical behaviour.

Related standards

ISO 13061 is a multipart series; directly related parts include ISO 13061-1 (determination of moisture content), ISO 13061-2 (density), ISO 13061-4 (modulus of elasticity in static bending), ISO 13061-6 (tensile stress parallel to grain), ISO 13061-7 (tensile perpendicular to grain), ISO 13061-11 (impact indentation), ISO 13061-12 (static hardness), ISO 13061-16/17/18 (swelling/compression/vocabulary) and others in the series. ISO 13061-3 also replaces/succeeds older national or international methods (for example earlier ISO/EN documents) and is commonly used alongside regional standards for timber testing.

Keywords

wood testing, small clear specimens, static bending, modulus of rupture (MOR), breaking load, specimen conditioning, ISO 13061, ISO/TC 218, timber mechanical properties, amendment 2017

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 13061-3:2014 (with Amendment 1:2017) is the ISO test method that specifies how to determine the ultimate strength of wood in static bending using small clear specimens. It describes specimen preparation, test setup (simply supported beam, mid‑span loading), test conditions and calculation/reporting of bending strength.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the laboratory procedure to obtain the breaking load and calculate the modulus of rupture (MOR) for small, defect-free wood specimens under static bending. It also sets out conditioning, apparatus and reporting requirements that ensure results are reproducible and comparable between laboratories.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Testing and research laboratories, timber and engineered-wood manufacturers, standards bodies, product certification agencies, and academic researchers working on wood mechanics and material properties.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The base document was published 15 December 2014 (ISO 13061-3:2014) and Amendment 1 was issued in 2017. The standard was maintained with that amendment; it was reviewed in the normal ISO review cycle and remained published/confirmed in subsequent ISO reviews. As of 27 February 2026 the ISO 13061-3:2014 text together with Amendment 1:2017 remains the recognized published document (check with ISO or your national body for the very latest status before formal citation or procurement).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 13061 is a multipart series covering physical and mechanical properties of wood by test methods on small clear specimens (multiple parts address moisture content, density, modulus of elasticity, tensile and compressive properties, hardness, swelling, vocabulary, etc.).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Static bending, modulus of rupture (MOR), small clear specimens, breaking load, specimen conditioning, wood mechanical properties, ISO 13061, timber testing, amendment 2017.