How does compression failure typically appear in wood?

Compression failure in wood is characterized by buckled fibers across the grain. This type of failure occurs when wood is subjected to loads that exceed its compressive strength, leading to deformation and failure of the structural integrity. The buckling happens because wood is an anisotropic material, meaning that its properties vary along different axes. When pressure is applied, particularly along the grain, the fibers can no longer withstand the stress and begin to compress, resulting in a visible distortion of the fibers and leading to a failure that manifests as buckling.

The other characteristics, such as cracked surfaces, discoloration, or warping along the grain, relate to different types of wood failure or degradation mechanisms. Cracked surfaces often occur due to tensile stresses or drying shrinkage, while discoloration might indicate decay or chemical changes within the wood. Warping typically arises from uneven moisture content or drying processes, rather than from compressive stresses, making these options less relevant to the specific aspect of compression failure being discussed.