Wood And Other Organic Structural Materials

WOODEN AND OTHER ORGANIC STRUCTURAL MATERIALS - 1917 - PREFACE - The purpose of this book is to present general as well as physical characteristics of a group of structural materials, most of which are of organic origin. Among the materials thus described are woods, paints and varnishes-with their associated oils, pigments, gums, and resins-glues, creosotes, and indiarubber. As stated, most of these materials are of organic origin. Those that are not, such as pigments and creosotes, have been added because of their close practical association with the others. The book is designed for engineers, architects, students in schools of technology, teachers of manual training and others who use the materials described or who are interested in their properties. V A statement of the reasons for separating structural materials along the line of organic and inorganic origin, seems to be in order. First, this basis is convenient in fact, so many of the important organic materials are used in connection with one another that most of the present book might easily appear under such a title as Properties of Woods and Associated Materials of Construction and, in the same way, the principal inorganic materials, steel, stone and concrete, are commonly associated. Second, the basis suggested is logical organic materials are fundamentally different from inorganic materials, for the former are results of physiological processes and have within them the influence of life these materials may manifest variations and special traits which do not appear in the more homogeneous and constant materials of the inorganic group. Assuming that some form of classification is desirable, where subject matter is as extensive as that within the present field, the writer ventures to urge the merits of the one now employed. Also, a book devoted especially to the materials here considered seems warranted. It is true that the inorganic materials, metals, stones, and concrete, upon which principal attention is so often bestowed in text-books, do predominate in the larger engineering structures but it is equally true that the organic material wood predominates in other structures, and that some of the materials now considered are used in practically all structures with which the engineer has to do. The opportunity is taken to criticise the degree of emphasis often laid in text-books upon those properties of structural materials which relate to strength. That this phase of the subject should be given precedence is beyond all question, but that it should ever be emphasized so greatly as to diminish or more or less replace attention which might otherwise be given to other features, such as durability, is questioned. In other words, it is regarded as pedagogically unfortunate when the whole story cannot be at least outlined to the student, when one part is detailed to such an extent that the other parts cannot be detailed at all. The belief is expressed that many students in schools of technology do not realize as early as they should, how real, live, and . , practical. the subject Properties of Structural Materials is, and how greatly knowledge of it will influence works which they may later design and construct, and that one cause for this, in the case of some students, is the slight or omission here referred to. The printed sources of information employed are acknowledged in footnotes throughout the text, and in a bibliography arranged for those who wish further information on any of the parts in question...