Abstract
An analysis was undertaken of the Brinell hardness of silver birch wood and its dependence on stand location, tree age, tree thickness and forest habitat type, and the interactions between these factors. Wood was obtained from 12 forest districts throughout Poland, from trees aged approximately 30, 50, and 70 years. A total of 51 study plots was established, from which 306 trees were taken. Hardness was measured on three surfaces (transverse, radial, and tangential sections) for 4777 samples, giving a total of 14,331 measurements. It was shown that the hardness of silver birch wood in Poland is significantly influenced by location, tree age, tree thickness, and habitat type, and by interactions between those factors. Habitat type was not shown to affect radial hardness, except in the case of Giżycko forest district. For the whole of the analysed material, the mean hardness on a transverse section was calculated as 66.26 MPa, corresponding to a very hard wood on Mörath’s scale, whereas the values for the longitudinal sections (radial 44.06 MPa, tangential 44.02 MPa) correspond to a soft wood.
Highlights
The hardness of wood is an important strength parameter
An increase in wood hardness was observed with increasing tree age (64.63, 66.05 and 68.05 MPa respectively for ages of 30, 50 and 70 years)
There was found to be a significant effect from location, tree age, tree thickness and habitat type, and from the interactions between these factors, on the Brinell hardness of Polish silver birch wood measured both on transverse sections and on longitudinal radial sections
Summary
The hardness of wood is an important strength parameter. It is significant for machining processes, and affects the durability of elements subject to abrasive action [1,2].The first definition of hardness was given by Heinrich R. The hardness of wood is an important strength parameter. It is significant for machining processes, and affects the durability of elements subject to abrasive action [1,2]. Hardness was defined as the resistance encountered by a foreign body attempting to penetrate the anatomical structure of the wood [4]; as the resistance provided by the wood material on working with tools [5]; as the resistance provided by a material to bodies being pressed into its surface, expressed in kG·cm−2 or kG·mm−2 [6]; or as the resistance of a material to permanent deformations under the action of concentrated forces acting on a small surface area of the material [7]. Multiple tests and scales have been developed for the measurement of hardness
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