Evaluating Log Stiffness Using Acoustic Velocity for Manufacturing Structural Oriented Strand Board

Abstract

Oriented strand board (OSB) is an engineered panel product formed by layering strands of resinated wood in specific orientations into a mat, then pressing the mat at a high temperature to form a panel of desired strength and stiffness. OSB manufacturing facilities utilize small diameter logs from thinning operations and waste from harvesting. Considerable variation exists in the wood properties of the raw material and ideally the OSB industry would take advantage of such variation, however, it lacks the technology required to rapidly assess log quality on-site. Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques based-on acoustics have the potential to rapidly segregate logs in the field, however the influence of acoustic-based log segregation on OSB panel properties is unknown. The aims of this project were to determine if log quality affects panel properties and if acoustic NDE technology is a satisfactory tool for determining log stiffness prior to entering the manufacturing process. It was found that low velocity (stiffness) logs produced panels with low stiffness while high and medium velocity (stiffness) logs produced panels with similar properties. The Director HM 200 was a satisfactory tool for determining log stiffness. Further studies are required to determine how to incorporate NDE tools into the manufacturing process.