Timber Material Mechanical Properties Testing: What the Numbers Mean
A practical guide to timber mechanical testing — covering MOE, MOR, hardness, and how to read test reports
When you're specifying timber material for structural or flooring use, you'll see numbers like "MOE 10,000 MPa" or "MOR 60 N/mm²" on data sheets. What do they actually mean — and which ones matter for your application?
Key Mechanical Properties: What's Tested and Why
- MOE (Modulus of Elasticity): Stiffness. Higher MOE = less deflection under load. Critical for long-span flooring joists and structural beams.
- MOR (Modulus of Rupture): Bending strength. The maximum stress the timber can withstand before failing in bending. Used in structural design calculations.
- Compression strength: Resistance to crushing along the grain. Matters for posts, columns, and load-bearing studs.
- Hardness (Brinell or Janka): Surface resistance to denting. Matters for flooring and tabletops — high-traffic areas need higher hardness.
Keep in mind: Modified timber typically shows 10–20% higher hardness than untreated timber of the same species. MOE and MOR can vary depending on modification temperature and species — always use test data for the modified product, not generic species data.
Testing Standards: EN vs. ASTM
| Property | EN Standard | ASTM Standard |
|---|---|---|
| MOE / MOR (bending) | EN 408 | ASTM D198 / D4761 |
| Compression (parallel) | EN 408 | ASTM D198 |
| Hardness | EN 1534 (Brinell) | ASTM D143 (Janka) |
How Modified Timber Performs
Typical Modified Timber Test Values (Softwood Species)
- MOE: 9,000–12,000 MPa (similar to or slightly higher than untreated)
- MOR: 50–80 N/mm² (species and modification depth dependent)
- Brinell hardness: 25–40 HB (20–40% higher than untreated softwood)
- Density: 400–550 kg/m³ (modified timber is typically 5–15% lower in MC, slightly higher in density per volume)
Our sports wooden profiles are tested for hardness and impact resistance, and our door/window profiles are tested for MOE and dimensional stability under load.
Need Mechanical Test Data for Your Specification?
We provide MOE, MOR, hardness, and compression test reports for all our timber material lines.
Or contact our technical team for test data review and specification support.
