Effect of Material Properties and Anchorage Location on Load-Bearing Capacity of Screw-Connected and Hung Cabinets

Authors

  • Ali Kasal
  • Nadir Yildirim
  • Jilei Zhang
  • Yusuf Ziya Erdil
  • Selcuk Demirci

Keywords:

Medium-density fiberboard, particleboard, plywood, load-bearing capacity, four-sided wall cabinets

Abstract

Effects of material type and thickness of selected wood-based composites for construction of cabinets and anchorage location of screws attaching cabinets to the wall on the vertical load-bearing capacity of four-sided wall cabinets were investigated. Experimental results show that screw anchorage location significantly affected the load-bearing capacity of four-sided wall cabinets. Cabinets anchored to the wall from their sides had a significantly higher vertical load-bearing capacity than the ones anchored to the wall from their top. Plywood (PLY) cabinets had a significantly higher vertical load-bearing capacity than medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard (PB) cabinets. MDF cabinets tended to have higher vertical load-bearing capacities than PB, but the significance was affected by screw anchorage location and material thickness. The vertical load-bearing capacity of PB cabinets was governed by its material modulus of rupture (MOR) and density, whereas MDF cabinets anchored from the sides were governed by their material internal bond strength and MDF cabinets anchored from the top by their material MOR and thickness. The vertical load-bearing capacity of PLY cabinets was dominated by material thickness only.

References

ANCI/KCMA (1995) A161.1. Performance and construction standard for kitchen and vanity cabinets. American National Standards Institute/Kitchen Cabinets Manufacturing Association, Reston, VA.nASTM (2001a) D1037-1999. Standard test method for evaluating properties of wood-base fiber and particle panel materials. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA.nASTM (2001b) D4442-1992. Standard test method for direct moisture content measurement of wood and wood-base materials. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA.nBachmann G, Hassler W (1975) The strength of various furniture constructions, their components, and fasteners. Part I. Holztecnologie 16(4):210-221.nEckelman CA (2003) Textbook of product engineering and strength design of furniture. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.nFPL (2010) Wood handbook: Wood as an engineering material. Gen Tech Rep FPL-GTR-190. USDA For Serv Forest Prod Lab, Madison, WI. 508 pp.nHo CL, Eckelman CA (1994) The use of performance tests in evaluating joint and fastener strength in case furniture. Forest Prod J 44(9):47-53.nKasal A, Zhang J, Yuksel M, Erdil YZ (2008) Effects of screw sizes on load bearing capacity and stiffness of five-sided furniture cased constructed of particleboard and medium density fiberboard. Forest Prod J 58(10):25-32.nKotas T (1957) The theoretical and experimental analysis of cabinet structure. Furniture Development Council Res. Rep. 6, London, UK.nKotas T (1958a) Stiffness of case furniture. Prezem. Drzenwy. No 10 and 11. pp. 10-14, 15-18, Warazava.nKotas T (1958b) A design manual for case furniture. Pergamon Press, New York, NY. 49 pp.nSilas TG (2003) Strength and construction techniques for kitchen cabinets back panels. Unpublished Master of Science thesis. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. 108 pp.n

Downloads

Published

2014-01-07

Issue

Number 1 / January 2014

Section

Research Contributions

License

The copyright of an article published in Wood and Fiber Science is transferred to the Society of Wood Science and Technology (for U. S. Government employees: to the extent transferable), effective if and when the article is accepted for publication. This transfer grants the Society of Wood Science and Technology permission to republish all or any part of the article in any form, e.g., reprints for sale, microfiche, proceedings, etc. However, the authors reserve the following as set forth in the Copyright Law:

1. All proprietary rights other than copyright, such as patent rights.

2. The right to grant or refuse permission to third parties to republish all or part of the article or translations thereof. In the case of whole articles, such third parties must obtain Society of Wood Science and Technology written permission as well. However, the Society may grant rights with respect to Journal issues as a whole.

3. The right to use all or part of this article in future works of their own, such as lectures, press releases, reviews, text books, or reprint books.