The Value of Transitioning from the Lap Shear to an Internal Bond for Testing Plywood

The lap shear test has been the standard for bond strength testing in plywood for years. Its goal is to predict the long-term durability of the plywood panels. This test has also been used for root cause analysis by mill quality management teams to identify issues. There are several problems with the test, two significant problems being, (1) the only bond tested is the one that is next to the veneer tested, and (2) the test is highly subjective to the accuracy of the kerfing. This paper will address the first problem, which is the larger issue. During the long-term exposure of the panel, the bond lines most likely to fail are the exposed surface or, more likely, the weakest bond. The lap shear test does not test all the bonds simultaneously, so there is no way to ensure the weakest bond is tested on each sample. The data included in this article clearly showed that there was a difference between the bond lines that would be missed in the standard lap shear test. Lastly, the main bonds tested are in the center of the panel; therefore, the result would be biased and may not be an accurate representation of how the panel would perform in the field. These deficiencies are remedied by shifting to the standard internal bond testing common in other wood products.