Effect of loading rate on parallel-to-grain tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of aged timber

To supplement data on the parallel-to-grain tensile properties of aged timber under different loading rates, non-standard small-sized specimens were prepared from 300-year-old Tibetan Populus cathayana . Tensile tests were conducted on specimens sawn in radial and tangential directions at loading rates from 0.25 to 6 mm/min. The effects of loading rate on tensile strength, modulus of elasticity (MOE), and Poisson’s ratio were systematically analyzed. Results indicated that loading rate had a generally minor effect on MOE and tensile strength, with both exhibiting low coefficients of variation. MOE was insensitive to loading rate within 0.25–6 mm/min. Although mean tensile strength showed little overall difference, it fluctuated only slightly and non-significantly as rate increased, with a local maximum at 0.75 mm/min and a minimum at 1.25 mm/min. The tensile strength of tangential specimens was significantly higher than that of radial specimens, while MOE and Poisson’s ratio showed no significant difference between the two orientations. The obtained parameters provided basic reference data for research on Tibetan ancient timber structures.