Evaluation of improved stevedore pallet

Abstract

An evaluation was made of the performance of 48 11 x 63 11 , reversible, doubleface, wing-type, two-way entry, nailed red-oak, stevedore pallets of two designs assembled with four different nails. Special consideration was given to Brazilian situations in the light of the interest of the author in the industrial potential of Brazil.

The pallets of improved design had their top and bottom leading-edge deckboards backed up by follow-up deckboards. Furthermore, four nails, instead of three, were used for fastening the leading-edge deckboards and three nai Is, instead of two, were used for fastening the inner deckboards to each stringer.

The sequence of tests on each pallet started with the initial stiffness test, followed by the rigidity test, the impact-incline deckboard-stringer separation test, and the follow-up static stiff,!'1ess and load-carrying capacity tests.

The pallets of improved design were better than those of conventional design during all tests performed. The influence of the nails on pallet performance was significantly different only during the performance of the rigidity and impact-incline tests. During the latter test, the pallets of improved design assembled with 311 helically threaded hardened-steel nails were, on the average, 66 times better than the conventional pallets assembled with the Brazilian 2 ½” helically fluted nails.

Recommendations were advanced, suggesting that the study be continued and that special consideration be given to the wood species available in Brazil for pallet assembly, to the use of improved nails, and to the environmental conditions under which stevedore pallets are exposed.