Love that article! The dobsonian telescope on page 15... HMMMMM... put that on my bucket list.

So I want to figure out this test fixture as described here:
Next, we applied a three-point bending load on each panel
with our MTS machine. The machine exerted loads parallel
to the grain on the cedar samples, and parallel to the
face grain on the plywood panels

I read that to say that they had the machine force on the edge of the panel, with the panel supported on two points, i.e. a triangle (3-point bending load) with the machine being the top of the traingle, and two base points holding the sample. The panel in my vision is standing on edge, not laying flat, because they say "The machine exerted loads parallel to the grain on the cedar samples, and parallel to the face grain on the plywood samples." Parallel to the grain- would that not be pressing on the edge? To me pressing on the face of the layup would be perpindicular to the grain. Am I right here?

Would Dan's original question not be how would it flex on the face, i.e. test it laying flat?