Measuring Radial Variation in Basic Density of Pendulate Oak: Comparing Increment Core Samples with the IML Power Drill

Abstract

To determine the appropriate final use of wood from a particular tree species, it is first necessary to know its properties. Methods that use wood samples taken directly from the trunk of a growing or felled tree are very time-consuming and require a great deal of manual work. Non-destructive methods may be more effective and much faster, thanks to the use of advanced technologies. The resistance drilling can be used to determine the variation in wood density along the radius of the stem. The main aim of the present study was to determine the basic density of the wood on a cross-section of the trunk of oak trees and to investigate the correlation of the results with those obtained by drilling the same trees with the IML RESI-PD 400. The results of Spearman’s correlation test showed strong positive correlations between all examined properties. We observed a trend whereby the density of the wood and Resi amplitude increased in direct proportion to the width of the annual rings. The results of linear regression show a strong relationship between examined properties. This study provide evidence that the Resi is an appropriate tool for non-destructive determination of wood density.