Hi, I would appreciate if anyone can clarify what is meant by strain rate effect of timber/steel, and if/how the strain rate of these materials can be altered. Many thanks
I believe you are referring to the fact that steel and wood have different E values and one must use transformed section properties to determine relative stresses.
Materials behave differently when they strain quickly rather than slowly. This means that if you fire a bullet through a sheet of steel, you may find that the modulus of elasticity is not as you would have expected.
Can it be altered? I don't think so but I'm prepared to hear other opinions.