Mechanical properties for woods.

AI Thread Summary
Finding mechanical properties for specific woods used in bow building, such as hard rock maple, yew, and bamboo, is challenging, as many bow builders rely on experience rather than scientific data. Key properties that determine a wood's effectiveness as a spring include modulus of elasticity and tensile strength, which relate to how quickly it returns to its original position after bending. Resources like ASTM D143 provide procedures for determining these values, which could aid in a more scientific approach to bow construction. The discussion highlights a gap in knowledge among archers regarding the mechanical properties of their materials. Overall, there is a call for more empirical data to guide wood selection for bow making.
Thorvald
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Hi.

It is relative easy to find mechanical properties for woods that can be used in building construction. But I would like to find mechanical properties for woods that can be used in bow building. That would be properties for woods such as hard rock maple, yew, bamboo, cocobolo, bolivian rosewood, bocote and such. And an additional question is: What material properties determines if a wood is good as a spring, i.e. when it is bent and released it returns to it's rest position as fast as possible.

Below is some examples of woods from a book I have.

Mechanicalpropertiesofwood.jpg


By the way - I think "Pokkenholt" is Lignum Vitae.
 
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Maybe, but I doubt it. I am on AIUK (the first link). The two other fora is rather unknown to me. But in general archers and even bow builders (as far as I know) doesn't know the mechanical properties of the woods they are using. Because they go by experience: If the limb is so and so thick, and made of this wood, it gives a draw force of XX lbs. But I'd rather like to go the more scientific route. The closest to something that I might be able to use is this: (Well couldn't get the link, the site didn't work. But it is at www.binghamprojects.com. I have attached it. But this is for the bow as a whole and probably with laminations and with fibreglass. Also it doesn't mention what bow woods the chart is based on.
 

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modulus pertains to springiness (hookes law) and tensile strength, or even better, flexural rupture will give u an idea of how much it can bend.

I think ASTM D143 has proceedures to determine these values, so u might want to use that as a google scholar search termgood luck
 

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