Materials / Compare
Steel A992 vs. Wood
Compare Steel A992 vs. Wood strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.
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|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | ||
| Yield strength | 385MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISC | not given (tensile used) |
| Ultimate tensile strength | 505MPasourcetypical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey) | 99MPasourcemodulus of rupture (no direct tensile value) |
| Compressive strength | not sourced | 46.6MPasourcecompression parallel to grain (maximum crushing strength), 12% MC |
| Flexural strength | not sourced | 99MPasourcemodulus of rupture (static bending), 12% MC |
| Elongation at break | not sourced | not sourced |
| Young's modulus (stiffness) | 200GPasourcedesign value (AISC 360-16) | 12.5GPasourcebending MOE, parallel to grain |
| Density | 7,850kg/m³sourcenominal (constructional data) | not sourced |
| Strength to weight | 49kN·m/kg | not sourced |
| Stiffness to weight | 25.5MN·m/kg | not sourced |
| Poisson's ratio | 0.3sourcedesign value (AISC 360-16 Commentary) | 0.35sourcemu_LR (red oak group, ~12% MC) |
| Shear modulus | 76.9GPa16.6x stiffer in shear | 4.63GPa |
| Bulk modulus | 167GPa | 13.9GPa |
| Speed of sound | 5,048m/s | not sourced |
| Thermal | ||
| Thermal conductivity | 48W/m·Ksourcenominal at 20 °C | 0.18W/m·Ksourceacross grain, 12% MC (Table 4-7, approximate) |
| Thermal expansion | 12µm/m·Ksourcenominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated) | 3.1–4.5µm/m·Ksourceparallel to grain, ovendry wood, range across species |
| 100 mm part over a 50 °C swing | 60µm growth | 19µm growth3.16x less |
| Specific heat | 460–480J/kg·Ksourcebase material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C | 1,700J/kg·Ksourcesolid wood (all species), 12% MC, 27 C |
| Heats up and cools (diffusivity) | 13mm²/s | not sourced |
| Thermal shock resistance | 5,390W/m22.1x more resistant | 244W/m |
| Values for | ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards. | Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), clear straight-grained specimens at 12% MC, parallel to grain unless stated; USDA FPL Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021) Ch. 4 and Ch. 5 |
Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.
Questions
Is Steel A992 stronger than Wood?
Steel A992 is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against tensile strength 99 MPa for Wood (3.89x).
Which is stiffer, Steel A992 or Wood?
Steel A992 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 12.5 GPa for Wood, so the same part in Steel A992 deflects less under the same load.
Which conducts heat better, Steel A992 or Wood?
Steel A992 conducts heat better: 48 W/m·K against 0.18 W/m·K for Wood.
Which expands less with temperature?
Wood expands less: 3.8 µm/m·K against 12 µm/m·K for Steel A992.