Modulus of Rupture of Common Wood
The modulus of Rupture (MOR), also known as bending strength, is a measure of the maximum bending stress that a wood specimen can withstand before failure. It is an important property to consider when designing wood structures, such as beams, trusses, and columns.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of modulus of rupture values for different types of wood at 12% moisture content, taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F).
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| Afromosia | 134 |
| Ash (black) | 87 |
| Ash (blue) | 95 |
| Ash (green) | 97 |
| Ash (white) | 103 |
| Aspen (bigtooth) | 63 |
| Aspen (quaking) | 58 |
| Balsa | 14 |
| Balsam poplar | 47 |
| Basswood (American) | 60 |
| Beech (American) | 103 |
| Beech (blue) | 83 |
| Birch (paper) | 85 |
| Birch (silver) | 85 |
| Birch (sweet) | 117 |
| Birch (yellow) | 114 |
| Black wattle | 120 |
| Boxelder | 36 |
| Bucida (oxhorn) | 106 |
| Buckeye (yellow) | 52 |
| Butternut | 56 |
| Cedar (eastern red) | 61 |
| Cedar (northern white) | 45 |
| Cedar (southern white) | 47 |
| Cedar (western red) | 52 |
| Cherry (black) | 85 |
| Cherry (wild red) | 60 |
| Chestnut (American) | 59 |
| Cottonwood (black) | 59 |
| Cottonwood (eastern) | 59 |
| Cypress | 73 |
| Dogwood | 105 |
| Douglas fir (coast) | 85 |
| Ebony (India) | 76 |
| Ebony (Mauritius) | 54 |
| Elm (American) | 81 |
| Elm (rock) | 102 |
| Elm (slippery) | 90 |
| Eucalyptus (jarrah) | 103 |
| Eucalyptus (karri) | 119 |
| Eucalyptus (mahogany) | 113 |
| Fir (balsam) | 63 |
| Fir (white) | 68 |
| Greenheart | 66 |
| Gum (red) | 82 |
| Hairi | 73 |
| Hemlock (eastern) | 61 |
| Hemlock (mountain) | 79 |
| Hemlock (western) | 78 |
| Hickory (bigleaf) | 126 |
| Hickory (mockernut) | 132 |
| Hickory (pignut) | 139 |
| Hickory (shagbark) | 139 |
| Hornbeam | 100 |
| Ironwood (black) | 128 |
| Juniper (alligator) | 46 |
| Larch (western) | 90 |
| Locust (black) | 134 |
| Locust (honey) | 101 |
| Magnolia (cucumber tree) | 85 |
| Magnolia (sweetbay) | 70 |
| Mahogany | 79 |
| Mahogany (Africa) | 121 |
| Mahogany (India) | 69 |
| Maple (bigleaf) | 74 |
| Maple (black) | 92 |
| Maple (red) | 92 |
| Maple (silver, creek) | 61 |
| Maple (sugar) | 109 |
| Oak (black) | 96 |
| Oak (bur) | 71 |
| Oak (canyon live) | 91 |
| Oak (chestnut) | 92 |
| Oak (laurel) | 87 |
| Oak (live) | 127 |
| Oak (northern red) | 99 |
| Oak (pin) | 97 |
| Oak (post) | 91 |
| Oak (scarlet) | 120 |
| Oak (swamp chestnut) | 96 |
| Oak (swamp white) | 122 |
| Oak (white) | 105 |
| Persimmon (common) | 125 |
| Pine (eastern white) | 59 |
| Pine (jack) | 68 |
| Pine (lobolly) | 88 |
| Pine (longleaf) | 100 |
| Pine (pitch) | 74 |
| Pine (ponderosa) | 65 |
| Pine (red) | 76 |
| Pine (shortleaf) | 90 |
| Pine (western white) | 67 |
| Poplar (yellow) | 70 |
| Red cedar (Australian) | 73 |
| Redwood (young growth) | 54 |
| Sassafras | 62 |
| Satinwood (Sri Lanka) | 95 |
| Silver fir (Pacific) | 76 |
| Sourwood | 80 |
| Spruce (black) | 74 |
| Spruce (red) | 74 |
| Spruce (white) | 65 |
| Sycamore | 69 |
| Tamarack | 80 |
| Tupelo (black) | 66 |
| Walnut (black) | 101 |
| Willow (black) | 54 |
The modulus of rupture of wood can vary depending on the specific species, grade, and moisture content of the wood.
Related Tables
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) Forest Products Laboratory. Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. United States: USDA, 2010.