Hardwood Softwood Species

Overview

Engineering reference data for Hardwood Softwood Species in material science and properties.

Key Formulas

Stress

$\sigma = \frac{F}{A}$

Force per unit area.

Strain

$\varepsilon = \frac{\Delta L}{L_0}$

Change in length per original length.

Hooke's Law

$\sigma = E \varepsilon$

Stress proportional to strain in elastic region.

Thermal Expansion

$\Delta L = \alpha L_0 \Delta T$

Length change due to temperature.

Variables

Wood Classification

Woods are classified into two primary categories based on their botanical origin:

• Hardwood — Wood from angiosperms (flowering plants), typically deciduous trees with broad leaves
• Softwood — Wood from gymnosperms (mostly conifers), typically evergreen trees with needles

Note: The terms "hardwood" and "softwood" refer to botanical classification, not actual wood hardness. Some softwoods (e.g., yew) are harder than some hardwoods (e.g., balsa).

Common Hardwood Species

Common Softwood Species

Species Count Summary

• Hardwoods: ~30+ common North American species listed
• Softwoods: ~30+ common North American species listed

References

• Original Source