INSIDE NWPCA CONT.
Threaded Fastener Tes ng
Is Now Complete
O
ver the past three years, the PDS
team and Virginia Tech have
been researching the performance of
typical pallet joints made using several
types of screws common in the pallet
industry. ese included many sizes and
styles of lag screws, carriage bolts, and
self-drilling screws (i.e., deck screws).
Once the data is processed and added to
PDS, heavy skids and other structures
assembled with screws can be specified
and analyzed. For more information on
any of the research being conducted,
please contact Kristen DeLack, PE, PDS
Principal Engineer and Strategic Business
Advisor, at kdelack@palletcentral.com.
Block Pallet Creep Study Kicks Off
K
risten DeLack and Virginia Tech officially kicked off a series of tests
that will refine the ability to predict how the deflections of racked block
pallets increase over time (creep), particularly for green lumber. is study
will continue for approximately six months during which Virginia Tech lab
workers will meticulously monitor 27 dial gauges set up to track deflections
of racked pallet strips. ey will be testing many variations in design
including lumber species, board thickness, and nail quality. Special thanks
to Jordan Piland and Atlas Pallets for donating the material being tested.
