Shrinkage Coefficient Research Articles

Self-sustained chaotic movement of electrothermal responsive liquid crystal elastomer pendulum

Self-sustained movement has the ability to absorb energy from the external environment to maintain its own movement. In the present work, a self-sustained chaotic simple pendulum system featuring an electrothermal responsive liquid crystal elastomers fiber and a mass ball is proposed and examined. The power-on state is achieved in the system through the infusion of liquid metal into this fiber. Which enables the fiber to shrink, feeding energy into the system to compensate for the energy dissipation resulting from damping, thus allowing the system to maintain its self-sustained movement. On the basis of the existing dynamic liquid crystal elastomer model, the dynamic governing equations are established, and the movement behavior of the system under electrothermal stimulation is theoretically explored. Numerical findings suggest that the simple pendulum system presents three different movement patterns, namely stationary pattern, self-sustained oscillatory pattern, and self-sustained chaotic pattern. Moreover, five system parameters of elastic coefficient, viscosity coefficient, gravitational acceleration, shrinkage coefficient and electrothermal strength are examined. The present work can contribute to a better understanding of self-sustained chaotic systems driven by electrothermal responsive materials and offer guidance for further exploration of applications such as chaos machine, and mind-brain chaos analysis.

Rapid Prediction and Parameter Evaluation of Process-Induced Deformation in L-Shape Structures Based on Feature Selection and Artificial Neural Networks

The process-induced deformation (PID) during the manufacturing of thermosetting composite materials can significantly compromise manufacturing precision. This paper introduces an innovative method that combines a finite element analysis (FEA), feature classification algorithms, and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) framework to rapidly predict the PID of a typical L-shaped structure. Initially, a comprehensive range of parameters that influence PID are compiled in this research, followed by the generation of a dataset through FEA considering viscoelastic constitutive models, validated by experimental results. Influential parameters are classified using Random Forest and LASSO regression methods, with each parameter rated according to its impact on PID, delineating their varying degrees of importance. Subsequently, through a hyperparameter analysis, an ANN framework is developed to rapidly predict the PID, while also refining the assessment of the parameters’ significance. This innovative approach achieves a computational time reduction of 98% with less than a 5% loss in accuracy, and highlights that under limited computational conditions, considering only a subset or all of the parameters—the peak temperature, corner angle, coefficient of chemical shrinkage, coefficient of thermal expansion, curing pressure, and E1—minimizes accuracy loss. The study demonstrates that machine learning algorithms can effectively address the challenge of predicting composite material PID, providing valuable insights for practical manufacturing applications.

Study on microscopic pores and physico-mechanical properties of red clay modified by calcium carbonate

Red clay as a special soil has a high liquid-plastic limit, water swelling and water loss shrinkage. To solve the problems red clay was modified by calcium carbonate produced in Hezhou, Guangxi. The Liquid-plastic limit, water loss shrinkage, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and consolidated drained (CD) triaxial shear test were carried out on the modified soils. The results show that when the calcium carbonate content is 20%, the plastic limit is 24.38 and the liquid limit is 38.67, which are reduced by 35.04% and 22.16%, respectively. The Montmorillonite content in the modified soil is reduced by 27.7%. The shrinkage coefficient decreased from 0.325 to 0.102. The NMR test shows that the content is 5% and 10% would lead to a decrease in the macropores and an increase in the micropores pores. The phenomenon is the opposite (15% and 20%). All contents led to the porosity increase. The calcium carbonate content of 5% was selected for triaxial shear tests to obtain the stress-strain curves. The Duncan-Zhang was used to predict the modified soil. The model has a large error in the prediction of the peak of the principal stress difference, but the overall trend is relatively consistent. Therefore, the correction coefficient related to the confining pressure was introduced. The corrected model fits the triaxial shear test well. The research provides a method for the liquid-plastic limits and shrinkage properties of modified red clay, explores the influence of calcium carbonate content on microscopic pores, and the correction of the model provides a theoretical basis for practical application.

Cure-induced residual stresses and viscoelastic effects in repaired wind turbine blades: Analytical-numerical investigation

During scarf repair of wind turbine blades, the difference in coefficients of thermal expansion and chemical shrinkage between the original part and the repair patch leads to the development of residual stresses. These residual stresses are detrimental when the repaired composite structures are subjected to operational cyclic loads and affect their post-repair lifetime. This paper uses a hybrid analytical-numerical model to evaluate the residual stresses in a scarf-repaired composite panel. A Prony series-based viscoelastic model is used to describe the material behaviour of the composite undergoing cure to replicate real-life effects more closely. Experiments on the repaired composite samples and numerical simulations on a model of the same are performed to study the post-repair mechanical behaviour. It is found that the damage initiates at the adhesive interface between the scarf patch and the base composite. The resulting debonding and damage to the base composite leads to the failure of the repaired section.

Hygro-mechanical long-term behaviour of spruce, pine and lime wood: parameter identification and model validation

Lime wood, spruce and pine are investigated with regard to its hygro-mechanical long-term behaviour. Experiments are conducted for an identification of model parameters and for model validation. Swelling and shrinkage coefficients, dry density, sorption characteristics and parameters for visco-elasticity, visco-plasticity and mechano-sorption are determined for the main material directions. Supplemented by literature values, a complete set of parameters for long-term hygro-mechanical modelling of wood species is found. Constrained swelling and shrinkage are analysed and the origin of the stress development is investigated. It is demonstrated, that creep phenomena lead to significant stress reduction by relaxation, in case of moisture changes especially due to mechano-sorption. The influence of different model parts is investigated. A numerical parameter study shows the influence of several material parameters on the stress evolution. Experimental material investigations such as those presented here are essential for the application of numerical simulation methods for the prediction of material behaviour and for the assessment of deformations, stresses and damage potential of climatically loaded timber structures.

Mesoscale simulation method for preplaced aggregate concrete based on physics engine

Preplaced aggregate concrete (PAC) has up to 60 % aggregate volume content, making mesoscale modelling difficult. A novel mesoscale simulation method based on physics engine was proposed in this study to accurately simulate the coarse aggregate skeleton of PAC. Unlike in conventional mesoscale simulations, point-to-point contacts between aggregates were formed due to virtual gravity in the physics engine. To verify this novel method, mechanical property and shrinkage behavior tests of PAC were conducted under different aggregate gradings and with different expansive agents. For the mechanical property test, the simulation results were compared with the test results in terms of the aggregate stacking state, failure mode, stress–strain curve, and mechanical property parameters. Repeatability and aggregate shape analyses were performed using finite element (FE) model. A similar comparison between the simulation and test results was also performed for the shrinkage behavior. A shrinkage coefficient reflecting the relationship between grout and PAC shrinkage was proposed. This novel mesoscale simulation method based on physics engine is particularly suitable for PAC. However, it is not limited to PAC and can be applied to the simulation of conventional concrete, thus solving the problem of traditional simulation methods that struggle to achieve a high aggregate fraction.

Valvular and perivalvular thrombosis following self-expandable aortic valve replacement: analysis of 100 multi-detector computed tomography scans

Abstract Aims Subclinical thrombosis may represent an early stage of prosthesis structural disease. Most of the available evidence on the incidence, location, predictors, and consequences of thrombosis comes from studies that have employed balloon-expandable valves. We aimed to describe the different localisations of valvular and perivalvular thrombosis and analyse prosthesis-host multi-detector computed tomography predictors in the context of self-expandable prosthesis. Additionally, we aimed to assess the impact of valvular and perivalvular thrombosis on prosthesis performance and subsequent clinical outcomes. Methods and results This analysis includes 100 consecutive patients with normal renal function who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement using Evolut R and received multi-detector computed tomography and transthoracic bi-dimensional echocardiography at the 6 month follow-up. Leaflet thrombosis was detected in 18 (18%) patients; 6 (6%) had at least one leaflet with severe thrombosis. Thrombosis of the anatomic sinus was detected in 24 patients (24%) and was more prevalent in the non-coronary sinus. Subvalvular thrombosis with partial or complete circumferential involvement of the prosthesis inner skirt was diagnosed in 23 patients (23%). Bicuspid valve was the predictor with highest association with hypoattenuated lesions [least absolute shrinkage and selection operator coefficient 0.35, 95%, confidence interval (CI) 0.21–0.68]. There was no difference in terms of haemodynamic structural valve dysfunction, neurological events, and re-hospitalisation between the groups with and without thrombosis (hazard ratio: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.24–3.06, P = 0.82). Conclusion This study showed that in a relatively low-risk population, valvular and perivalvular thrombosis were not rare phenomena following transcatheter aortic valve replacement at early follow-up. Bicuspid valve showed the strongest association with post-implant thrombosis.

Study on anti-segregation performance of cement stabilized macadam and its impact on mechanical and shrinkage properties

This study systematically explores the relationship between the mechanical and shrinkage properties of cement-stabilized macadam (CSM) stone base layers and their resistance to segregation to address the issue of segregation in wide and thick base layers. It establishes three cement dosage levels and five aggregate gradation types (GW1, GW2, GW3, GW4, and GW5). This research evaluates the anti-segregation performance of the mixtures by introducing the shape segregation coefficient L and the sieving segregation coefficient Seg and investigates how these properties influence segregation resistance. The findings revealed that mixtures with GW3 and GW4 gradations exhibit superior segregation resistance, with the most concentrated gradation curves in each zone. These mixtures form a robust force chain structure that resists segregation tendencies during descent. With a 5% cement content, the shape segregation coefficient L decreases by an average of 3.1%, and the sieve segregation coefficient Seg reduces by 14.0%. In addition, mixtures with GW3 and GW4 gradations show optimal drying shrinkage properties. Effective segregation-resistant gradations can significantly reduce the dry shrinkage coefficient of the specimens.

Improving the frequency resolution of distribution of relaxation times by integrating elastic net regularization and quantum particle swarm optimization

The distribution of relaxation times (DRT) method is an efficient approach for analyzing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of fuel cells. However, facing electrochemical processes with close characteristic times/frequencies, low frequency resolution of DRT puts a damper on the analysis of results. To address this problem, a new DRT method integrating elastic net regularization and quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO) algorithm is proposed in this study. Elastic net regularization combines the advantages of Lasso's feature selection and Tikhonov's coefficient shrinkage, thereby enhancing the frequency resolution of DRT. The use of the QPSO algorithm avoids the manual selection of parameters. A comprehensive evaluation of the developed method is conducted using both synthetic EIS and experimental EIS. The results show that the developed DRT method shows good performance and the reconstructed DRT functions exhibit high frequency resolution and accuracy. Overall, the proposed DRT method holds promise for advancing the characterization of fuel cells.

Study on the strength characteristics and micro-mechanism of modified solidified red mud

The residue generated during the production process of alumina, known as red mud, is a type of solid waste. The engineering properties of red mud can be significantly enhanced through the modification and solidification using inorganic materials. This study primarily utilized red mud as the raw material, supplemented with fly ash, lime, and clay, to conduct a solidification experiment of red mud. Orthogonal tests with three factors of two ash ratio (ratio of lime to fly ash), two ash content (total lime and fly ash), and red mud types were designed to study the changes of different ratios and maintenance conditions, etc., on the engineering properties of red mud. In addition, the micro-mechanisms of modified red mud were investigated by means of XRF, XRD, SEM and EDX. The results show that for optimum moisture content, red mud types are the most important influencing factor and for maximum dry density, two ash content is the most important influencing factor. For strength characteristics, the optimum two ash ratio was 1.5:1, the optimum two ash content was 50%, and the optimum red mud types were 70% CRM (red mud made of Chalco Shandong Co., Ltd) mixed with 30% clay. The addition of lime, fly ash, and clay improves the temperature shrinkage coefficient of the red mud. Through the analysis of microscopic composition and structure, it can be seen that goethite (α-FeO(OH)) and magnetite (γ-Fe2O3) in the red mud reacted with the modified materials to generate crystalline aluminosilicate and amorphous hydrated silicate gel, and these products together with the original calcium carbonate (CaCO3), tricalcium aluminate (Ca3Al2O6) and garnet (Ca3TiFeSi3O12) in the red mud which have certain strengths enhance the structural strength of the modified red mud. The optimum ratio obtained from the combined test results was lime: fly ash: CRM = 30:20:50. Therefore, using lime, fly ash and clay as modified materials can greatly enhance the engineering properties of red mud and realise the resourceful use of red mud.

TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF Eucalyptus grandis USING DIGITAL IMAGE CORRELATION (DIC)

This study aimed to characterize some technological properties of Eucalyptus grandis wood and evaluate the use of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to obtain the displacement and the behavior of the samples in deformation and its relationship with tension in tensile and compression tests parallel to the fibers. Samples were produced from 23-year-old wood to determine the basic density, shrinkage coefficient, anisotropy in contraction and swelling, and the mechanical strength to tensile and compression parallel to the fibers. To calculate the Modulus of Elasticity (E), the stress wave velocity was measured in the tensile samples. The measurement of sample elongation during the test was obtained by DIC and then calculating strain and E. The basic density was 0.497 g/cm³ and the anisotropy values of contraction (1.25) and swelling (1.27) indicated that it was a very dimensionally stable wood. The tensile strength (118.50 MPa) was higher than normally obtained for the species. The parallel compression average values (53.06 MPa) were similar to those in the literature. As for E, the average value obtained by DIC was 12,664.24 MPa; by the stress wave timer, it was 11,941.35 MPa. The evaluated wood is indicated for structural uses according to the C40 class (NBR 7190-1997). Finally, DIC was able to adequately provide displacement values that occurred during tests, enabling the modulus of elasticity calculation.Keywords: wood characterization, non-destructive method, physical and mechanical properties, strain.

The Research Effects of Variable Temperature and Early Strength Agent on the Mechanical Properties of Cement-Stabilized Macadam.

In cold regions with high daily temperature gradients (>20 °C), the durability of cement-stabilized macadam (CSM) base materials is poor and prone to cracking. To effectively reduce the cracking of semi-rigid base layers in cold regions with high daily temperature gradients and extend fatigue life, this study focused on cracking and fatigue characteristics of CSM with a 10% commercial early strength agent (ESA) added by the external mixing method under different curing conditions. The ESA was manufactured by Jiangsu Subote New Materials Co., Ltd. (Nanjing, China). The curing conditions were divided into variable temperature (0-20 °C) and standard temperature (20 °C). CSM curing was carried out through a programmable curing box. The research results indicated that the variable temperature curing conditions reduced the strength and fatigue resistance of CSM and accelerated the modulus attenuation rate of CSM. At the same time, the drying shrinkage of CSM was greater. The temperature shrinkage coefficient and strain of CSM under variable temperature conditions were smaller than those under standard temperature conditions. The effect of variable temperature conditions on the cracking and durability of CSM could not be ignored in cold regions. Compared to standard temperature curing conditions, the indirect tensile strength of CSM reduced by 31.04% under variable temperature conditions, the coefficient of variation increased by 2.97 times, and the discrete type significantly increased. Compared with CSM without ESA, the dry and temperature shrinkage strains of CSM with 10% ESA were reduced by 24.65% and 26.10%, respectively. At a stress level of 0.6, compared to standard temperature curing conditions, the fatigue life of CSM decreased by 97.19% under variable temperature conditions. Under variable temperature conditions, the fatigue life of CSM with 10% ESA increased by 196 times compared to 0% ESA. Adding ESA enhanced the anti-shrinkage cracking, strength, and durability of CSM under variable temperatures. ESA incorporation effectively compensated for the weakened characteristics of CSM under variable temperature conditions. The study proposed a practical approach for boosting the durability of CSM in cold environments.

Optimization of measurement and calculation methods for viscoelastic creep strain and mechanical adsorption creep strain during conventional drying process of Pinus sylvestris

The traditional measurement method for viscoelastic creep strain and mechanical adsorption creep strain has relatively low accuracy, making it difficult to ensure the data accuracy of specimen strain measurements. In this study, 50-mm-thick Pinus sylvestris sawn timber was used as the research object. Along the thickness direction of the test material, the relationship between the free shrinkage coefficient and the moisture content of the test material was studied to optimize the measurement methods of viscoelastic creep strain and mechanical adsorption creep strain during drying process. The results showed that the optimized measurement method for viscoelastic creep strain, which compensates for dimensional change caused by moisture content changes during the creep recovery phase, was applied to different layers in the thickness direction of the test material. The average relative error at the end of the drying stage was reduced 20.1% compared to the traditional method. For the mechanical adsorption creep strain in different layers of the test material’s thickness, the optimized measurement method, based on the free shrinkage size calculated from the free shrinkage coefficient and moisture content, reduced the average relative error 59.1% compared to the traditional method.

Modeling and Assessment of Temperature and Thermal Stress Field of Asphalt Pavement on the Tibetan Plateau

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) is the highest altitude plateau in the world, characterized by strong solar radiation and large diurnal temperature differences and so on, which brings a great negative impact on the temperature and thermal stress field of asphalt pavement. The purpose of this study is to analyze the temperature field and thermal stress status of asphalt pavement in the QTP to provide a reference for pavement design and maintenance in high-altitude areas. The finite element method was applied to establish the temperature field model to study the distribution and variation of pavement temperature. On this basis, the influence of cooling amplitude on pavement thermal stress was studied during cold waves. In addition to this, the key internal factors affecting the thermal stress of pavement, such as surface thickness, surface temperature shrinkage coefficient, surface modulus, and base modulus, were analyzed by an orthogonal test. It was found that temperature and solar radiation have a significant effect on the pavement temperature field. When the cold wave came, the cooling rate had a considerable impact on the thermal stress of the pavement, that is, every 5 °C increase in cooling rate would increase the thermal stress by more than 50%. The temperature shrinkage coefficient and surface modulus of the surface layer material had the greatest influence on the pavement thermal stress. The thermal stress could be reduced by more than 0.4 Mpa for every 5 × 10−6/°C reduction in the surface temperature shrinkage coefficient or every 1000 Mpa reduction in the surface modulus. This study can provide a reference for improving the temperature field and thermal stress field of asphalt pavement in the plateau area.

Influence of fly ash on the properties of wood-polymer composites

This study reports the influence of fly ash on the operational, technological, and physical-mechanical properties of composites based on secondary high-density polyethylene filled with wood flour. It is shown that when calcite is replaced by fly ash in the composite, the operational and technological properties of the material are improved: water absorption, coefficient of linear thermal expansion and technological shrinkage are reduced. When using fly ash as a filler, there is also an increase in the flexural strength of the composite by 9% (from 51.3 MPa in the absence of fly ash to 55.8 MPa in the absence of calcite), but the Charpy impact toughness of samples with cut is decreased by more than 2 times (from 11.9 kJ/m2 to 5.1 kJ/m2, respectively).

Dynamic response of a simply supported liquid-crystal elastomer beam under moving illumination.

Optically responsive liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) devices have thriving potential to flourish in soft robots and microdrives, owing to their advantages of remote controllability, structural simplicity, and no power supply. In terms of illumination-driven modes, most research has focused on the dynamic response of LCE devices under continuous and periodic illumination, while the theoretical study of the dynamic response under moving illumination is limited. In this paper, based on the coupling of LCE and mechanical deformation under moving illumination, the dynamic model of a LCE simply supported beam is built to investigate its dynamic response under moving illumination. The analytical solution of the dynamic response of the LCE beam under moving illumination is derived through the modal superposition method and the Duhamel integration, and the solution is programed and analyzed with matlab software. By numerical calculations, the influence of the internal and driving parameters of the structure on the dynamic response of the LCE simply supported beam can be analyzed. The results show that when the moving speed of illumination reaches the first-order critical frequency, the maximum amplitude of the dynamic response at the beam mid-span will reach a peak. Meanwhile, the dynamic response of beam can be improved by increasing the illumination width, increasing the light intensity, increasing the shrinkage coefficient, and reducing the damping coefficient. This work provides theoretical guidance for applying the dynamic response of LCE devices under moving illumination in soft robots, microactuators, energy harvesters, sensors, etc.

Effects of environmental humidity on the gap of mortise-tenon joints: Experimental and numerical investigations

Mortise-tenon (MT) joints play a vital role in the lateral deformability and seismic performance of traditional timber structures. However, moisture exposure can cause shrinkage-induced gaps and then affect the durability of MT joints. Limited knowledge exists on the humidity response of MT joints. To investigate the effect of environmental humidity on the gaps between mortise and tenon, multiple measurements of moisture content (MC) and shrinkage deformation were conducted on straight MT joints that were subjected to humidity variations. Different ambient conditions and exposure levels were taken into account. Three-dimensional numerical models were established to simulate the humidity response of MT joints. Model validation was then performed by comparing the simulation and experimental results in terms of moisture distribution and gaps. On this basis, quantitative analysis was made to reveal the development mechanism and main influence factors of moisture-induced gaps. Results show that straight MT joints are vulnerable to environmental humidity changes. The observed gap is estimated to cause a decrease of up to 23.1% in the initial elastic stiffness. Although only contributed by the shrinkage deformation of tenons, the vertical gap is theoretically larger than the horizontal one which is attributed to a combination of both mortise and tenon. A clear linear relationship is found between the vertical gaps and the MC decrease, with the product of the radial shrinkage coefficient and tenon height as the theoretical ratio. Controlling the moisture exposure is considered the most effective way to reduce moisture-induced gaps in MT joints.

Preparation and Performance of Cement-Stabilized Base External Curing Agent in a Desert Environment

To explore and deal with the difficulty in curing cement-stabilized bases in desert environments, curing agents were prepared to enhance the curing effect on the base in this research. The composite curing agent was prepared through orthogonal experiments and the durability of the curing agent coating were studied by simulating a desert environment. Subsequently, the curing effect on the performance of bases was analyzed. Finally, the hydration degree of cement was studied via scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and the curing mechanism of the curing agent was explored. The results show that the composite (paraffin emulsion is the main component of the film, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer dosage is 20%, ethanol ester-12 dosage is 10%, and sodium silicate dosage is 18%) could effectively improve the water-retention performance (water-loss ratio: 2.36%) and mechanical properties of the specimen (7 d compressive strength: 7.48 MPa; 7 d indirect tensile strength: 0.70 MPa). The dry shrinkage coefficient of the specimen with composite curing agent was reduced by 116.26% at 28 days. The compressive strength of dry and wet freeze could reach 7.48 MPa and 6.88 MPa, respectively. The durability of the curing agent-coated base met the requirements of pavement performance in desert areas. The results of XRD, TG, and SEM indicated that the curing agent promoted hydration. In addition, the number of C-S-H gel and AFt crystals significantly increased. The curing difficulty of road bases in desert areas could be reduced effectively through the application presented in this study, which contributes to the conservation of natural and human resources.

Effect of layup sequence on cure deformation and accurate prediction of composite pressure vessels

The application of composite winding pressure vessels is becoming more and more widespread, and the magnitude of deformation during curing can have a significant impact on service performance, but there are fewer studies on the accurate prediction of the numerical and experimental validation of the deformation during the curing process of pressure vessels. To accurately predict the effect of different angles of layup on the curing deformation of high-pressure hydrogen storage vessels made of T700S-12 K/4251A4B2 carbon fiber/epoxy composites in cylindrical and dome sections. In this paper, WCM-ABAQUS segmented pressure vessel accurate modeling method is proposed for the first time, using the method of converting the chemical shrinkage coefficient of epoxy resin into thermal expansion coefficient equivalently, the finite element prediction of the deformation of the pressure vessel during the curing process in different layup sequences was carried out, and the deformation values of the pressure vessel in different layup sequences were analyzed comparatively. Finally, the winding curing experiments were carried out on pressure vessels with different layup sequences, and the curing deformation values of the experimental tests on pressure vessels with different layup sequences were compared with the finite element simulation values, respectively, and the minimum error value 13.07%. It provides a reliable basis for accurately predicting the deformation value of the pressure vessel curing process, and also provides a reference for subsequent experiments to reduce the curing deformation value.

Selected Physical and Mechanical Properties of Subfossil Oak (Quercus spp.) Compared to Aged Oak and Recent Oak

Subfossil oak (SO) wood material, originating from three different buried trunks discovered in recent years by excavations in riverbanks on Romanian territory, was analysed in this research. Aged oak recovered from constructions (AO_C) and recent/new oak wood material (NO) were also investigated to provide comparative data for the SO. The oven-dry density and the basic density, the total volumetric and linear swelling and shrinkage coefficients and the compression strength parallel to the grain were the selected physical and mechanical properties considered. The experimental results showed a lower density of SO compared to NO and AO_C tested by up to about 19–20%, alongside a trend of increased dimensional instability, with variability among the tested assortments. The compression strength parallel to the grain was reduced by 19–31% compared to NO. The properties of AO-C were closer to those of NO, but differences between wood materials from different sources and of different ages were registered. A positive linear correlation was found between compression strength parallel to grain and the basic density for all types of material and assortments tested. These comparative results have to be considered by designers and engineers in the valorisation of SO in furniture design and other applications.