What is the spring constant of wood and how can it be determined?

[VitaminA]

Homework Statement

I'm modelling a plank of wood as a number of masses connected by springs. I need to know the spring constant of wood, but I am unable to find it and I'm not sure how to work it out?

 

[phinds]

"wood" is a hugely variable quantity. Do you mean balsa wood or ironwood?

 

[VitaminA]

Let's go with oak?

 

[phinds]

I'm not trying to be a smart-*** here, but there are, depending on what source you believe, somewhere between 600 and 900 species in the genus Quercus that are all oaks and easily dozens of those produce wood that is commercially available.

What is a "spring constant"? How is it defined?