Predicting mechanical properties of clear wood from Acacia mangium provenances using ultrasound

Abstract

Ultrasound was considered as a means for determining mechanical properties of clear wood in six different Acacia mangium provenances from a trial forest planted in Vietnam. A total of 30 trees (5 trees from each provenance) with no major defects were selected, and a 50-cm-long log was obtained at 1.3 m above the ground from each tree for the assessment of mechanical properties. The measured average ultrasound velocities for provenances tested in the longitudinal direction ranged from 4094 m/s to 4271 m/s. The predicted average dynamic modulus of elasticity (Ed) values varied from 7.42 GPa to 8.70 GPa among provenances. The Ed indicated significant positive correlation coefficients with modulus of elasticity (0.64 to 0.96), modulus of rupture (0.44 to 0.87), and compression strength (0.54 to 0.92) for provenances examined in this study. The results indicated that the use of ultrasound was feasible to determine the mechanical properties of A. mangium provenances planted in Vietnam.