The simple answer is round.

The reason is that for a given cross-sectional surface area, a square
has narrow spans and wide spans through the center. A circle only has
one span through the center (which is the diameter). If you don't know
what direction a load will be applied, then a circle gives you even
coverage in all directions, where a square is stronger along the
diagonals, but weaker than a circle of the same area, perpendicular to
the edges.

On the other hand, if you know where your load forces are likely to
come from, you could orient square posts to fight this, and may come
out ahead.

Another consideration is that trees conveniently grow with a
near-circular cross-section. So for any given tree, making a square
out of its trunk is going to weaken it by removing significant amounts
of material. Ideally a fence-builder will have a supply of
appopriately sized tree trunks, that have been debarked, depending on
the type of fence being built.

-Mike


-Mike

McQualude wrote in message ...
Don't make too many assumptions, this is a simple question.

It is about real world application of fence posts.