In article , Bridger wrote:
On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 14:22:40 GMT, (Doug Miller)
wrote:

Q: Steel is stronger than wood. Right?
A: Depends. A piece of steel of a certain size will almost always be
stronger as a piece of wood the same size. A steel rod of a particular
length and mass as compared to a rod of wood the same length and mass ...

Depends on the conditions it's exposed to as well. One of my woodworking books
has a dramatic photo of the aftermath of a major building fire, showing steel
I-beams softened to the point of failure by the heat of the fire -- bent in
parabolas, draped over and hanging from a heavily charred but still intact
wooden beam.

wow. could you scan and post that?

See post titled "Fire aftermath photo" in abpw. Photo is from "Modern
Woodworking" ISBN 0-87006-246-8, page 313. Text attributes the photo to the
Forest Products Lab, and notes:

"... wood beam construction ... provides a high fire resistance factor. Wood
beams do not transmit heat like unprotected metal beams which lose their
strength and quickly collapse under extremely high temperatures. Exposure of a
wood beam to flame results in a very slow loss in its strength. It is weakened
only in proportion to its slow reduciton in cross section due to charring.
This takes place slowly and thus provides precious time in an emergency that
may save life and material."

--
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?