A study of the deformation behaviour of veneers resulting from water storage (A methodological approach for determining the swelling characteristic using the example of European beech veneer)

Abstract

This article discusses the swelling-induced deformation behaviour of veneers. Impregnation tests were performed to assess the influences on the unrestrained deformation of veneers. Among others, the tests focused on a comparison of the swelling-induced deformation in consideration of influences caused by the manufacturing process for different anatomical orientations (tangential or radial veneer). For this, samples of European beech veneer (Fagus sylvatica L.) were measured under a microscope and categorised into groups of tangentially or radially sampled veneers based on the anatomical characteristics. In addition, manufacture-specific damage was documented during the slicing process and also considered for the assessment. As a result of these tests, it was proven that the influence of near-surface damage caused by the manufacture on the unrestrained deformation of veneers was significantly dominant.