So, use internet sources to write a 3-5 page text report with figures as needed to illustrate. “Mechanical Properties of Wood”, by the Forest Products Laboratory is a starting point. Describe how wood is processed to structural products after logs or chips are delivered to a mill. The broad classes include: -Sawn lumber: dimensional (2 x 6’s, etc.), beam & stringer and post & timber -Planar engineered: plywood, chipboard, OSB -Other engineered wood products. A rough guide to what is expected in this self-researched written exercise is as follows: 1 Of hardwood and softwood, which is most often used for structural purposes (rather than furniture, floors or paper)? What main species are sourced in the USA and Canada? 2 Dimensional lumber – include the following -Describe methods used to rip cut a log. Which is most often used? -Describe the visual grading system and the classifications (select, etc.) -Turning logs 4 tines in plain sawing makes grain ~ 30o to the X-section long side. See HO #1 framing figure with planks on joists. What difference does this make? 3 How are plywood and chipboard (not cheap furniture particle board) made? – Why are plywood veneer layers placed in 90o alternating “L” directions? – Why is there always an odd number of glued plywood veneer layers? – Why can the middle veneer layer (s) be lower quality than the outer or “face” layers? 4 Other engineered wood products -Describe oriented strand board (OSB), cross-laminated timber (CLT) and structural composite lumber glulam beams and composite I-joists & I-beams.