Fracture toughness and shear yield strength determination for two selected species of central European provenance

Abstract

When offcut of wood is formed by shearing, Atkins’s analyses of sawing processes can be applied. Using this modern approach, it is possible to determine the fracture toughness and shear yield strength of wood. This model is only applicable for the axial-perpendicular cutting direction because both of these parameters are suitable for the given direction of cutting edge movement and cannot be considered material constants. Alternatively, these parameters can be recalculated for the perpendicular and axial directions of cutting when the parameters are considered non-variable quantities. The set of data necessary for calculation can be easily obtained while cutting wood with common circular saw blades. It is necessary to ensure a minimum of two levels of workpiece height and two diverse levels of feed speed. The main aim was to develop an alternative methodology for simultaneous determination of wood fracture toughness and shear yield strength for two principal directions regarding wood grains on the basis of cutting tests performed during circular saw blade cutting for two selected wood species of Central Europe provenance, such as spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.).