NONDESTRUCTIVE PREDICTION OF BENDING STRENGTH OF PINUS MASSONIANA LAMB. LOGS AND SMALL CLEAR SPECIMENS USING STRESS-WAVE MEASUREMENTS

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, coupled with multivariate analytic statistical techniques, has been used to predict the mechanical properties of solid wood samples taken from small clear and full length lumber specimens of hybrid larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × Larix kaempferi). The specific mechanical characteristics evaluated were modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) in bending tests, maximum crushing strength in compression parallel to grain (CS), dynamic modulus of elasticity of air-dried lumbers (Efr), and wood density (DEN). Partial least squares (PLS) regression calibrations were developed for each wood property. The calibrations had relatively strong relationships between laboratory-measured and NIR-predicted values in small clear specimens, with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.61 to 0.89. The calibration models were applied to the prediction data sets and results suggested that NIR spectroscopy has the potential to predict mechanical properties of small clears with adequate accuracy (standardised prediction error=2.06-2.82). The PLS models based on spectra from the radial face ( R2 = 0.73-0.89) of wood were slightly superior to those from the tangential face ( R2 = 0.61-0.84). This might be due to the differences of the surface condition in terms of the anatomical structures and, thus, radial face better represents the sample. A reasonable predictive model for wood stiffness was also obtained from the full length lumber specimens, but the accuracy of the calibration for prediction was less than the small clear specimens ( R2 = 0.49-0.78). The regression coefficients obtained from the PLS models showed similar trends in all mechanical properties. It was suggested that the absorption bands due to the OH-groups in cellulose were the major contributors to building robust models for predicting the mechanical properties of wood

There is a growing interest in improving wood properties through the appropriate selection of seed provenances within species. In this study, wood density and mechanical properties were investigated for Acacia mangium trees from six different provenances, planted in Quang Tri, Vietnam. Radial and among provenance variation in stress wave velocity (SWV), wood density (WD), dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd), modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were determined on a total of 480 small clear specimens (20 × 20 × 300 mm) cut from 30 trees (five per provenance). SWV and selected wood properties near the pith were significantly lower than those near the bark. Differences in all selected mechanical properties among provenances were significant. The highest static properties (MOR and MOE) were found for the Long Thanh provenance indicating its potential suitability for breeding programs in Vietnam focused on improving A. mangium wood quality. A high positive correlation coefficient was found between MOEd and MOE (r = 0.93, P < 0.001) and our results indicate that the stiffness of A. mangium can be predicted using stress wave method provided the density of measured element is known.

The objective of this study was to examine the potential of stress wave velocity (SWV) as a rapid and non-destructive method to estimate the mechanical properties of Melia azedarach wood. The SWV, dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd), modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR, bending strength) and density were determined on ninety 20 ⋅ 20 ⋅ 320 mm clear wood specimens, obtained from stems of three ten-year-old M. azedarach trees, and tested at environmental equilibrium in 20°C, 60 % relative humidity (a moisture content of approximately 12 %). There was a statistically significant (0.1 % level) but weak correlation (R2 = 0.23) between the SWV and MOE, but no statistically significant correlation was found between the SWV and MOR. Much better results for prediction of static properties of M. azedarach wood were obtained when SWV and wood density (WD) were used together through calculation of MOEd in the air-dry condition (MOE: R2 = 0.76, MOR: R2 = 0.47), although in the case of MOR a model based on WD alone is slightly better (R2 = 0.58), and WD is also almost as good as MOEd for predicting MOE. It is concluded that SWV coupled with WD can be employed as a predicting parameter to evaluate the mechanical properties of M. azedarach wood during the manufacturing process, although WD alone is also effective. The SWV alone would not be useful due to MOE being almost directly proportional to WD at this moisture content.

In this study, we used both nondestructive and destructive methods for assessing solid wood properties in six Vietnamese grown Eucalyptus clones at 6 years after planting. We measured stress wave velocity in standing sample trees (SWVT), logs (SWVL), and small clear specimens (SWVS) obtained from the trees and logs, and to measure static properties, we used MOE—modulus of elasticity and MOR—modulus of rupture. The highest average MOE and MOR were detected in clones 3 and 5, suggesting that these clones might be more appropriate for breeding programs focused on improving wood quality of Eucalyptus grown in Vietnam. Mean MOE and MOR of the lumber had significant (p &lt; 0.001) relationships with SWVT (r = 0.61 and 0.53, respectively) and SWVL (r = 0.76 and 0.71, respectively). Stress wave velocity measurements of both standing trees and logs can be useful for further segregating Vietnam’s Eucalyptus timber resource based on MOE and MOR. For the small clear specimens, the best prediction of stiffness (dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd)) was obtained when both SWVS and air-dry density (AD) were used. The coefficient of correlation between MOE and MOEd was 0.93.

Radial and between-clone variations in stress-wave velocity, air-dry density (AD), and mechanical properties in six clones of 5-year-old Acacia auriculiformis trees planted in Vietnam were investigated. The potential to predict modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) using stress-wave velocity of standing trees (SWVT) or small specimens (SWVS) was also examined. The examined SWVT, SWVS, and wood properties differed significantly among clones, particularly with two (clones 1 and 6) well suited for A. auriculiformis tree breeding programs focusing on lumber production, as they had the highest static bending values and no significant difference in AD between positions near pith and bark. At the specimen level, the best prediction of static bending properties could be achieved when both SWVS and AD were used in a model for calculation of dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd) in air-dry conditions. Significant correlations between SWVT and average MOE (r = 0.83) and MOR (r = 0.61) of test specimens indicated that the use of stress-wave technique for assessing MOE and MOR for selecting the best A. auriculiformis clones in terms of lumber performance was possible.

• Key message This paper investigates the juvenility limit and structure–property relationship in secondary quality beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) and oak ( Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.). The juvenile wood occupies a very small area near the pith. The stabilization of the different parameters varies over time. Adding the microfibril angle (MFA) and the grain angle to the MOE prediction model significantly improves the quality of the model, despite little variation in both parameters. • Context Using secondary qualities and small logs of hardwoods such as beech and oak for engineered wood products is an increasingly important issue due to the technological challenges of processing smaller logs and denser woods. Secondary quality hardwoods are expected to have less variation in mechanical properties compared to softwoods with high juvenile wood content. • Aims The first objective of this study was to investigate the radial variation in wood properties of suppressed growth beech and oak trees obtained from thinning operations. The second objective was to develop a model to predict the mechanical properties of these hardwood species based on their structural parameters. • Methods The microfibril angle, ring wood density, and ring width from the pith to the bark were determined using an X-ray densitometer. The modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture were evaluated on the small clear specimen using a three-point bending test. The wood density, grain angle, and microfibril angle of this small clear specimen were also measured. • Results The results show that the juvenile wood in oak has a wider ring and higher microfibril angle, whereas it has wider latewood and higher microfibril angle in beech. For both species, the juvenile wood occupies a very small area, less than 5 cm from the pith. The mechanical properties of oak and beech wood from suppressed growth trees are comparable to properties reported in the literature for dominant trees. The modulus of elasticity of oak was best predicted using wood density, grain angle, and microfibril angle. The modulus of rupture of oak is better predicted with wood density and grain angle, whereas it is best predicted with wood density alone for beech. • Conclusion Juvenile wood found in the suppressed growth trees of both hardwoods can be used in place of mature wood. It is important to take structural parameters into account when predicting the mechanical properties of hardwood species.

The material constants of wood required for finite element analysis (FEA) are usually calculated using small clear specimens. However, defects, such as knots and slope of grain affect the strength reduction in the full-size specimens. Consequently, an error occurs if only the material constant calculated from the small clear specimens is used to predict modulus of rupture (MOR). Therefore, in this study, the MOR reduction coefficient according to defect was obtained through the bending test of the full-size specimens and applied to the FEA, in addition to the material constant from the small clear specimens. The maximum bending moment section was measured for a 3-section four-point load, and defects in the outermost tension layer were measured for laminated timber and glulam. The result of the bending test confirmed that MOR also decreased as the size of the defect increased. Therefore, when predicting MOR, a strength reduction ratio according to visual grade was applied. The MOR predicted FEA was twice as large as the actual MOR before defect correction, but the prediction error after defect correction was greatly reduced to 8%, thus increasing the prediction accuracy.

The strength data for timbers established in British and European standards (BSEN 5268 and EC5 respectively) are based on large size specimens. However the strength data of Malaysian timbers are based on small clear specimens. This study attempts to compare data on the bending strength properties of timbers in structural size and small clear specimens. Eight selected Malaysian timbers from different strength groupings were used in this study. The results of bending strength from small clear specimens were statistically correlated with the results from the structural size specimens. Based on large size specimens, the strength groupings of some of the timbers are not in the same strength groupings based on small clear specimens.

Distributions of the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) were characterized at three loading rates for small clear beech specimens in static bending. The correlation between MOE and MOR for all three loading rates was significant, but it weakened with increasing load rates. The analysis of the characteristics of empirical distributions, as well as the preliminary selection of the theoretical distributions for MOE and MOR, were performed on the basis of L-moments and L-moment diagrams. According to the standard for testing small specimens, MOE and MOR are determined as the arithmetic mean of the sample. Usage of the arithmetic mean is justified when the analyzed quantity is symmetrically distributed. It was found that the distribution of MOE and MOR is not always symmetric. The loading rate influences the shapes of the MOE and MOR empirical distributions, and consequently the choice of theoretical distribution. The general extreme value distribution stood out as the best one for both MOE and MOR, regardless of the loading rate, and the second overall ranked distribution is the three-parameter Weibull distribution. The loading rate affected the value of the fifth percentile in MOR, when determined from both the empirical and theoretical distributions.

Genetic parameters for wood stiffness and strength properties were estimated in a 29-year-old hybrid larch stand (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × Larix kaempferi). The study included 19 full-sib larch families from Hokkaido, northern Japan. Implications of these genetic parameters in wood quality improvement are subsequently discussed. Traits included in the analyses were the dynamic modulus of elasticity of green logs (Elog), the modulus of elasticity (MOE), the modulus of rupture (MOR), compression strength parallel to the grain (CS) in small clear specimens, wood density (DEN), and diameter at breast height (DBH). DEN had the lowest coefficients of variation and MOE the highest. The narrow-sense heritability estimates of Elog, MOE, MOR, and CS were 0.61, 0.44, 0.60, and 0.43, respectively, and those of DEN and all mechanical properties increased from an inner to outer position within the stem. Elog and DEN had high positive phenotypic (0.52–0.83) and genetic (0.70–0.92) correlations with MOE, MOR, and CS. The mechanical properties of the inner position of the stem had rather high phenotypic and genetic correlations with those of the outer position and overall mean. The predicted gains in wood stiffness (Elog and MOE) were higher than those of the strength properties (MOR and CS). The predicted correlated responses in MOE, MOR, and CS when selecting for Elog and DEN were 72.6%–97.8% of a gain achievable from direct selection of these traits. DBH showed an insignificant correlation with all mechanical properties, although selection of this trait had a slightly negative effect on the mechanical properties.

This study aimed to evaluate some major physical and mechanical properties of 7 year old Acacia hybrid BV10 planted in Quy Chau district, Nghe An province. Small specimens with dimensions of 20 (Radial) × 20 (Tangential) × 320 (Longitudinal) mm3 were cut near the pith and near the bark at breast height from each sample tree, then placed in a standard laboratory setting until their weights reached a constant value. The resulting mean air-dry density (AD), stress wave velocity (SWV), static modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) were 0.53 g/cm3, 4,241 m/s, 10.00 GPa, and 82.17 MPa, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that SWV and these wood properties examined near the bark were always higher than those values measured near the pith. Stress wave technology can be used to predict MOE and MOR; however, AD is still a more reliable indicator for predicting mechanical properties since it showed a strong correlation with MOE (r = 0.86; P &lt; 0.001) and MOR (r = 0.80; P &lt; 0.001).

Research on the mechanical and physical properties of wood is commonly carried out on either small clear specimens or structural-sized boards. The first approach was more frequently utilized in the past, while the latter is more commonly used nowadays. However, there is very little information on how the two approaches relate with one another. This study aimed to quantify the relationships between the mechanical [modulus of elasticity (MOE) and bending strength] and physical properties (density) of both specimen sizes. A total of 1376 structural-sized boards from three different species (Douglas-fir, Norway spruce and Sitka spruce) were tested in bending, after which a small clear specimen was extracted from the undamaged portion of each board and re-tested in bending. Prior to destructive testing, all boards and clear specimens were evaluated using non-destructive technology. Poor-to-moderate relationships were found between all measured mechanical and physical properties of structural-sized timber and small clear specimens. In both specimen sizes, the properties correlated with one another within the same specimen size, as well as across the two sizes. The strength of correlations appears to be somewhat species dependent. Relatively good relationships were identified when comparing the mean tree values of the properties examined, suggesting either method can be used for a tree-level comparison. The non-destructive evaluation of specimens was shown to reflect the measured properties moderately well, with the relationships changing significantly depending on which measured property was being predicted.

A cost-effective estimation of wood quality of hardwood green logs is needed. The purposes of this study were to investigate and compare two nondestructive acoustic methods to predict the wood quality of green logs from a poplar I-72 (Populus ×euramericana cv. I-72/58 “San Martino”) plantation. After log measurements, small clear wood specimens were cut and air dried to 12 percent moisture content. The static bending modulus of elasticity (MOE) of small clear wood specimens was about 15 and 20 percent greater than the dynamic MOE of green logs based on resonance vibration (Efr) and stress wave (Esw). However, good correlations (R) between Efr and Esw of logs and bending MOE of 0.806 and 0.848 (P &lt;0.001), respectively, were observed. Significant correlations were also found between the Efr and Esw of logs and the modulus of rupture and compressive strength parallel to grain (σc) of small clear wood specimens (P &lt; 0.001). The results indicate that both acoustic techniques were effective predictors of wood quality, although the stress wave method was found to be more accurate and reliable than the resonance vibration method. The longitudinal changes of strength properties with tree height could be tracked by these two methods.

Knowledge of the genetic relationship between growth traits and wood properties is critical for their simultaneous genetic improvement. We measured the height and diameter at breast height (DBH) and wood quality traits, including stress wave velocity (SWV) as the selection criteria for wood stiffness, wood density, and Pilodyn penetration depth as selection criteria for wood density, at a progeny test site at stand age ca. 30, which comprised of full-sib families by a full diallel mating design with eight plus Larix kaempferi tree clones. We estimated the genetic parameters for each trait and phenotypic, genetic and residual correlation between traits. The contribution of specific combining ability and reciprocal effects were small for all traits. Growth traits showed high positive genetic correlation with average wood density of the outermost five rings (0.912 for height, 0.826 for DBH) and with SWV (0.738 for height, 0.762 for DBH), irrespective of small phenotypic correlations between them. Wood density and SWV also showed high genetic correlation. Pilodyn penetration depth showed high selection efficiency for average wood density of the outermost five rings (79.8 %) whereas SWV showed higher selection efficiency for wood density. Thus, simultaneous genetic improvement of growth traits and wood properties of L. kaempferi appears possible.

Bending strength (MOR) and bending Young’s modulus (MOE) according to DIN 52186 and MOE calculated on the basis of eigenfrequency and sound velocity were tested on small clear wood specimens of Norway spruce wood with and without compression failure. One group of specimens was climatised in a normal climate of 20°C and 65% relative humidity, while the other group was stored for one month under water before testing. The MOR of specimens with compression failure decreased about 20% on average (normal climate and wet) compared with the specimens without compression failure. The MOE of the specimens with compression failure was reduced only minimally compared with the specimens without compression failure stored in a normal climate, but very distinct differences (more then 30%) were found under wet conditions. The MOE of the specimens with compression failure calculated on the basis of eigenfrequency and sound velocity were not reduced or only minimally compared with the specimens without compression failure. It is therefore not possible to detect compression failure and to determine reduction in MOR using eigenfrequency or sound velocity. In addition, impact bending (DIN 52189), tensile strength and tensile MOE (DIN 52188) were tested on small clear wood specimens of Norway spruce wood with and without compression failure. The specimens with compression failure revealed an average reduction in impact strength of about 40% and an average reduction in tensile strength of about 20% compared with the specimens without compression failure, whereas tensile MOE of the specimens with compression failure was not reduced compared with the specimens without compression failure. The detection of compression failure by computer tomography (CT) was tested on Norway spruce wood boards 10 cm in thickness, and detection by optical scanner was tested on planed Norway spruce wood boards. CT recognised large compression failures easily, whereas the scanner was not able to detect them.