This section is from the book "Building Construction And Superintendence", by F. E. Kidder. Also available from Amazon: Building Construction And Superintendence.
(Values for strength are those given in the Architects' and Builders' Pocket Book.)
Weight per cubic foot in pounds. Average. | Weight per foot, B. M. in pounds. Average. | Safe Tensile Strength, per square inch. | Safe Crushing Strength in pounds per square inch. | Safe Centre Load for Beam 1 inch square and 1 foot long.* | Safe Shearing Strength with the Grain, pounds per square inch. | Safe Crushing Strength across the Grain, pounds per square inch. | ||
Chestnut.............. | 40 | 3.3 | 1,500 | 530 | 60 | † | ||
Hemlock................ | 30 | 2.5 | 1,200 | 450 | 55 | 70 | 200 | |
Oak, white................ | 52 | 4.3 | 2,000 | 750 | 75 | 150 | 600 | |
Pine, Georgia yellow............ | 43 | 3.6 | 2,000 | 1,000 | 100 | 120 | 500 | |
Pine, Oregon............ | 36 | 3 | 1,800 | 750 | 90 | 100 | 400 | |
Pine, Norway.................. | 36 | 3 | 1,600 | 700 | 70 | 90 | 400 | |
Pine, white, Western............ | 30 | 2.5 | 1,500 | 625 | 65 | 80 | 200 | |
Spruce................ | 36 | 3 | 1,800 | 625 | 70 | 90 | 250 | |
Whitewood.............. | 35 | 3 | 1,200 | 500 | 65 | ..... | 200 | |
Slate............... | 174 | ..... | ........ | ..... | 40 | ....... | ...... | |
Bluestone flagging........... | ..... | ...... | ....... | ....... | 25 | ..... | ......... | |
Granite............... | 167 | ...... | ...... | 850 | 18 | ..... | ........ | |
Limestone (Ind)................ | 158 | ..... | ...... | 550 | 18 | ... | ........ | |
Marble.............. | 170 | ...... | ...... | 550 | 18 | .. | ......... | |
Sandstone................. | 139 | ... | ...... | 450 | 12 | . | ....... | |
Cast iron................. | 450 | ..... | 2,600 | 13,500 | 308 | 7,000 | ...... | |
Wrought iron.................... | 480 | ....... | 10,000 | 10,000 | 666 | 7,500 | 12,000 | |
Steel, medium............... | 490 | ..... | 12,500 | 13,000 | 888 | 7.500 | 12,000 | |
" pin.............. | ... | ..... | .... | .... | . . | 7.500 | 12,000 | |
" rivets.............. | ... | ....... | .... | .... | .. | 7.500 | 15,000 |
* One-eighteenth of the " fibre strain " or safe " Modulus of Rupture."
†For full permanent loads, such as brick walls, etc., use only four-fifths of these values.
 
Continue to: