From
http://www.wood-database.com/ <--- Be careful, you'll spend hours there.
Bloodwood:
Rupture Strength: 21,600 lbf/in2 (148,900 kPa)
Elastic Strength: 2,360,000 lbf/in2 (16,300 MPa)
Crushing Strength: 13,340 lbf/in2 (92.0 MPa)
For comparison:
Shagbark Hickory:
Rupture Strength: 20,200 lbf/in2 (139,310 kPa)
Elastic Strength: 2,160,000 lbf/in2 (14,900 MPa)
Crushing Strength: 9,210 lbf/in2 (63.5 MPa)
European Yew:
Rupture Strength: No data available: mostly likely very close to the bending strength for Pacific Yew, which is 15,200 lbf/in2 (104,830 kPa)
Elastic Strength: 1,320,000 lbf/in2 (9,100 MPa)
Crushing Strength: No data available: mostly likely very close to the crushing strength for Pacific Yew, which is 8,100 lbf/in2 (55.9 MPa)
Rupture Strength:
Also known as modulus of rupture (MOR), this is a measure of a specimen’s strength before rupture. It can be used to determine a wood species’ overall strength; unlike the modulus of elasticity (seen below) which measures the wood’s deflection, but not its ultimate strength. (That is to say, some species of wood will bow under stress, but not easily break.)
MOR is expressed in pounds-force per square inch (lbf/in2) or kilopaschals (kPa). This number is given for wood that has been dried to a 12% moisture content, unless otherwise noted.
In practical terms, the number itself isn’t all that meaningful, but it becomes useful to use in comparison with other woods. For instance, Hickory is known to have excellent strength properties among domestic species in the US, and has a MOR of 20,200 lbf/in2 (139,310 kPa). In comparison, Red Oak is another well-known wood used in cabinetry and furniture, and has a MOR of 14,300 lbf/in2 (98,620 kPa).
Elastic Strength:
In the most simple terms, the modulus of elasticity (MOE) measures a wood’s stiffness, and is a good overall indicator of its strength. Technically it’s a measurement of the ratio of stress placed upon the wood compared to the strain (deformation) that the wood exhibits along its length. MOE is expressed in pounds-force per square inch (lbf/in2) or megapaschals (MPa). This number is given for wood that has been dried to a 12% moisture content, unless otherwise noted.
In practical terms, the number itself isn’t all that meaningful, but it becomes useful to use in comparison with other woods. For instance, Hickory is known to have excellent strength properties among domestic species in the US, and has a MOE of 2,160,000 lbf/in2 (14,900 MPa). In comparison, Red Oak is another well-known wood used in cabinetry and furniture, and has a MOE of 1,820,000 lbf/in2 (12,500 MPa).
Crushing Strength:
Sometimes known as Compression Strength parallel to the grain, this is a measurement of the woods maximum crushing strength when weight is applied to the ends of the wood (compression is parallel to the grain). This number is a good indicator of the wood’s strength in applications such as deck posts, chair legs, or other circumstances where the load being applied is parallel rather than perpendicular to the grain.
In practical terms, the number itself isn’t all that meaningful, but it becomes useful to use in comparison with other woods. For instance, Ipe is known to have excellent strength properties among imported species, and has a crushing strength of 13,510 lbf/in2 (93.1 MPa). In comparison, White Oak is a well-known wood used in cabinetry and furniture, and has a crushing strength of 7,440 lbf/in2 (51.3 MPa), and Redwood is commonly used for decking, and has a crushing strength of 5,690 lbf/in2 (39.2 MPa).
