Hi! I want to build a very large patio sun umbrella with sail cloth. It would involve 2.4 meter lengths of round stock, bent to a 3m radius. I plan for the bends to be held with tension, not heat bent. My easiest choices for material are 1" or 1-3/8" (25mm or 35mm) diameter oak, beech, or pine. Which wood would be best? I guess I'm looking for the wood type which will be least likely to crack when a strong wind gust comes along, when it's already under a moderate bending load. I am a quasi mechanical engineer, but working with metal. This is a rather complicated question, I find, and so I'm looking for opinions based on instinct and experience as well as any solid science based answers.
strength of various woods under bending load?
