[Strawbale] 3-string bales...testing, testing, testing...

[Chris Green]

Denise Ohio wrote:
> <snip> I've read quite a bit of the
> testing data and wish I was a zillionaire so all of these ideas could be 
> tested thoroughly across an array of conditions.
One series of tests I would like to see is a comparison of the strengths 
of different types of straw: hemp, rice, wheat, oats, barley, flax, and 
so-on, perhaps in comparison to various fodder species ("hay")
I don't know if that has been done yet.
 With hemp in there, the testing would probably have to be done by 
engineering students at Waterloo University, Fleming College, or some 
such place in Canada or Europe so we don't have to, ahem, bale out some 
college kids in the hemp-free States....

What I envision is some kind of calibrated machine/ gizmo that could 
pull on individual straws or bundles of straw until they break. Do that 
a few hundred times and one can come up with an averaged figure on how 
strong the different fibres are.
Or, following the spirit of Rob Tom, a simpler, gizmological free way to 
do this would be to clamp the straw on one end and clamp weights on the 
other, adding more weight until the straws break...that might not be as 
accurate as using a precision micro-calibrated hydraulic modulus of 
elasticity stress analyser thingie, but it would cost less.
Leaving more money to put in some students' pockets.

Maybe the straw bale community (us) should think about raising some 
funds to conduct this testing. I'll pledge (and mail!)  $20 if someone 
wants to organize it.

Cheers,

Chris Green.