Monitoring critical defects of creep rupture in oriented strandboard using acoustic emission: incorporation of EN300 standard

This creep rupture study in commercial oriented strandboard (OSB) used a 4-point flexural test to evaluate the dynamic property changes of a 300x1,000-mm specimen using an acoustic emission (AE) system. Compared to deflection, AE events were more sensitive to damage accumulation than deflection to final failure. Specimens were artificially notched on either the tension- or compression-side and were subjected to 80% stress level at ambient conditions. Defects on the compression side of the bending specimen were found to be more critical than on the tension side in creep-rupture. The in-plane fractures followed patterns of the valleys of low-density spots as defect trenches, demonstrating adverse effects of high variation in horizontal density. An impetus and rationale to incorporate regulatory quality inspection standards and product certification of structural OSB based on the control limits of 10% panel density as stipulated in EN300 standard is discussed.