Shear Strength of Common Wood Types
The shear strength of wood varies depending on several factors, including the wood species, the direction of the grain relative to the applied load, the moisture content of the wood, and the presence of defects such as knots and cracks.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of shear strength values for different types of wood at 12% moisture content and room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F).
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| Ash (black) | 10.8 |
| Ash (blue) | 14 |
| Ash (green) | 13.2 |
| Ash (white) | 13.2 |
| Aspen (bigtooth) | 7.4 |
| Aspen (quaking) | 5.9 |
| Balsa | 1.7 |
| Balsam poplar | 5.4 |
| Basswood (American) | 6.8 |
| Beech (American) | 13.9 |
| Birch (paper) | 8.3 |
| Birch (silver) | 8.3 |
| Birch (sweet) | 15.4 |
| Birch (yellow) | 13 |
| Boxelder | 9.4 |
| Butternut | 8.1 |
| Cedar (northern white) | 5.9 |
| Cedar (southern white) | 5.5 |
| Cedar (western red) | 6.8 |
| Cherry (black) | 11.7 |
| Chestnut (American) | 7.4 |
| Cottonwood (black) | 7.2 |
| Cottonwood (eastern) | 6.4 |
| Cypress | 6.9 |
| Douglas fir (coast) | 7.8 |
| Elm (American) | 10.4 |
| Elm (rock) | 13.2 |
| Elm (slippery) | 11.2 |
| Fir (balsam) | 6.5 |
| Fir (white) | 7.6 |
| Hemlock (eastern) | 7.3 |
| Hemlock (mountain) | 10.6 |
| Hemlock (western) | 8.6 |
| Hickory (mockernut) | 12 |
| Hickory (pignut) | 14.8 |
| Hickory (shagbark) | 16.8 |
| Larch (western) | 9.4 |
| Locust (black) | 17.1 |
| Locust (honey) | 15.5 |
| Magnolia (cucumber tree) | 9.2 |
| Magnolia (sweetbay) | 11.8 |
| Mahogany | 8.5 |
| Maple (bigleaf) | 11.9 |
| Maple (black) | 12.5 |
| Maple (red) | 12.8 |
| Maple (silver, creek) | 10.2 |
| Maple (sugar) | 16.1 |
| Oak (black) | 13.2 |
| Oak (bur) | 12.5 |
| Oak (chestnut) | 10.3 |
| Oak (laurel) | 12.6 |
| Oak (live) | 18.3 |
| Oak (northern red) | 12.3 |
| Oak (pin) | 14.3 |
| Oak (post) | 12.7 |
| Oak (scarlet) | 13 |
| Oak (swamp chestnut) | 13.7 |
| Oak (swamp white) | 13.8 |
| Oak (white) | 13.8 |
| Pine (eastern white) | 6.2 |
| Pine (jack) | 8.1 |
| Pine (lobolly) | 9.6 |
| Pine (longleaf) | 10.4 |
| Pine (pitch) | 9.4 |
| Pine (ponderosa) | 7.8 |
| Pine (red) | 8.4 |
| Pine (shortleaf) | 9.6 |
| Pine (western white) | 7.2 |
| Poplar (yellow) | 8.2 |
| Redwood (young growth) | 7.6 |
| Sassafras | 8.5 |
| Silver fir (Pacific) | 8.4 |
| Spruce (black) | 8.5 |
| Spruce (red) | 8.9 |
| Spruce (white) | 6.7 |
| Sycamore | 10.1 |
| Tamarack | 8.8 |
| Tupelo (black) | 9.2 |
| Walnut (black) | 9.4 |
| Willow (black) | 8.6 |
The shear strength of wood may vary depending on factors such as wood grade, age, and specific testing conditions.
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.