A feasibility study of using two-component polyurethane adhesive in constructing wooden structures

This investigation was conducted to determine the feasibility of using a two-component polyurethane （PUR） adhesive, with special waterproof properties, in constructing wooden structures. We designed and conducted tests to compare the shear strength and adhesion performance of PUR with polyvinyl acetate （PVAc） adhesive on block-shear specimens constructed of oriental beech （Fagus orientalis L.）, fir （Abies alba Mill.）, poplar （Populus deltoides Bartr.）, white oak （Quercus alba L.）, sycamore （Platanus orientalis L.） and white walnut （Juglans cinerea L.）. The values of the percentage of wood failure were also determined in specimens constructed with each adhesive. The highest shear strength values of both adhesives were obtained in specimens constructed of beech, while the lowest shear strength values were obtained in fir and poplar specimens. Average shear strength of the PUR adhesive was 16.5% higher than that of the PVAc adhesive. Specimens constructed of fir, poplar and sycamore were characterised by the highest percentages of wood failure, whereas the lowest average percentages of wood failure were obtained in beech and oak specimens. With the exception of oak specimens, there was no statistically significant difference between percentage of wood failure among the PUR and PVAc adhesives. Generally, the PUR adhesive showed an acceptable adhesion performance on wood materials used in our study.     

Performance,Capability and Costs of Small-Scale Cable Yarding Technology

The authors tested two mini-yarders, one for uphill and the other for downhill extraction. The two machines were modern commercial models, offering state-of-the-art yarding technology on a miniature scale and at a much lower cost than required for purchasing a full-size tower yarder. The two units must not be regarded as alternative, but rather as complementary, since they offer different capabilities and advantages. Both machines were tested while harvesting firewood from the thinning of young beech stands in Central Italy. The tests indicated that both units can reach a productivity between 1.5 and 2.4 m³ SMH⁻¹, including all delays, as well as set-up and dismantle time. Calculated extraction cost ranged between 24 and over 30€ m⁻³. The authors calculated a set of regression equations for estimating machine productivity as a function of the main work conditions. The performance of the studied mini-yarders does not seem much inferior to that achieved by professional light tower yarder under the same work conditions, but the lighter construction of the small-scale units may result in a lower resistance to wear and abuse. In any case, mini-yarders seem ideal for deployment under the typical conditions of small-scale forestry, offering a good solution to wood extraction on steep terrain, competitive with animal and winch logging in terms of productivity, cost and operator comfort.     

Application of a Small-Scale Equipment System for Biomass Harvesting

The small-scale harvesting equipment system has been and continues to grow in use in forestry operations in some regions in the world. This harvest system can include a range of equipment types, such as feller-bunchers or chainsaws, skidders or farm tractors, and chippers. These machines are generally smaller, lower cost and less productive than larger, more advanced forestry machines. The objective of this project was to investigate the feasibility of a small scale harvesting system that would produce feedstock for a biomass power plant. The system had to be cost competitive. A boom-type feller-buncher, a small grapple skidder and a chipper were tested as a small-scale system. In this study, feller-buncher and skidder productivity was determined to be 10.5 m³ per productive machine hour, and production for the chipper was determined to be 18 m³ per productive machine hour. Production from the system did not reach the desired levels of 4 loads/day (25 m³/load); however, the system was able to produce about 3 loads/day. The results showed that the system currently could fill a roadside van for $16.90/m³, but suggested machine modifications could potentially reduce the system cost to $12.73/m³. Residual stand damage was minimal, especially on flatter ground and not operating on a slash layer. Soil disturbance from the harvesting system was predominantly undisturbed or classified as a shallow disturbance.     

Impact of number of stems per stool on mechanical harvesting of a Eucalyptus globulus coppiced plantation in south-west Western Australia

Coppice regeneration of eucalypt plantations is increasingly being used in Australia to reduce re-establishment costs. However, little is known about the impact of early coppice reduction regimes on harvester performance during clearfelling. The trial compared the productivity, time consumption, cost and fuel use of a single-grip harvester (Hyundai 210LC-9 base and SP 591LX harvesting head) clearfelling a 10.5-year-old, second-rotation coppiced Eucalyptus globulus stand in south-west Western Australia for chip logs. Coppice stems had been reduced to one stem or two stems per stool or left untreated. Time and piece counts were used to determine harvester productivity. Harvester cycle and elemental times and the number of logs and harvester head passes per stem were obtained from video recordings. Harvester fuel use was determined by refilling the fuel tank to the same point each day. Stem size was the major factor influencing harvester productivity (20.8 m3 per productive machine hour without delays [PMH₀], 11.8 m³ PMH₀^?1 and 8.6 m³ PMH₀^?1 in the single-stem (mean stem volume [MSV] 0.21 m³), two-stem (MSV 0.09 m³) and untreated trial areas (MSV 0.06 m³), respectively. Estimated harvester cost (AU$ m^–3) was considerably greater for the two-stem and untreated trial areas, which reflected the lower harvester productivity in these areas. Processing time represented over 60% of the total cycle time for all trial areas. Coppice characteristics resulted in significantly different moving/positioning times between trial areas. However, this difference had no impact on cycle times. Number of logs per stem was a significant variable in cycle and processing time regressions for all trial areas and felling time for the single-stem trial area. Number of harvester head passes was a significant variable in cycle and processing time regressions for the single-stem trial area and processing times for the two-stem trial area, although its effect was less than that of the number of logs per stem. Fuel consumption (L PMH₀^?1) was relatively constant between the trial areas, hence harvester energy intensity (L m^?3) reflected the harvester productivity in each trial area.     

Cost-productivity analysis of South African pine sawtimber mechanised cut-to-length harvesting

The South African forestry industry is experiencing an increase in the number of fully mechanised timber-harvesting systems. Understanding the productivity of these systems, for which data is currently limited for South Africa, is an important step to maximise the utilisation of machines being used. A time study of a mechanised cut-to-length system was conducted in Pinus elliottii sawtimber plantations in the Southern Cape forestry region of South Africa. A harvester and a forwarder were studied with the intention of analysing the division of work time amongst work elements, modelling each machine’s productivity and cost, and estimate fuel consumption. For the harvester’s productivity, a multiple regression model was developed using diameter at breast height (DBH), average distance moved per work cycle and slope class as predictors (adjusted R²? = 0.80). The harvester had a mean productivity of 33.6 m³ per productive machine hour (PMH₀) under the current conditions with most of the productive time being used in the moving element. It consumed 25.5 L PMH₀ ^?1 of diesel on average. The forwarder’s fuel consumption was calculated as 16.8 L PMH₀ ^?1, while productivity was 46.8 m³ PMH₀ ^?1. The forwarder spent the longest portion of the work cycle in the loading and unloading phases. A productivity regression model was created that included load size and distance moved during the driving in the loaded phase (adjusted R?² = 0.78).     

利用杨树人工林剩余物生产刨花板可行性研究

The composite board industry in Iran is obliged to use residues from forest operation as well as wood industry for competing with paper industry because of shortage of wood. In the present study we investigated the residues from poplar plantation used for particleboard production. Three kinds of wood materials, poplar branches, small diameter poplar wood (3–8 cm) and beech wood, were used in the experiment of particleboard production. The results demonstrated that the characteristic of particleboard made from poplar branches and small diameter wood is comparable to that made from mature beech wood. To avoid too much residual acid in the final board, the properties of boards produced with 1.5% hardener at 175°C press temperature are acceptable, although the properties of particleboard produced with 2% hardener were higher than were higher than that of the board produced with lower hardener (1% or 1.5%).. The MOR, MOE and IB of particleboard made from branches were measured as 14.57, 2015, and 1.32 MPa, respectively, while The MOR, MOE and IB of particleboard produced from small diameter poplar wood were 19.90, 2199, and 1.86 MPa, respectively. The thickness swelling of boards made from branches after 2 and 24 h immersion in water was 20.14% and 31.26%. The utilization of branches and very small diameter wood of poplar is recommended for the survival and developments of particleboard industry in Iran.     

国外削片机的新进展

本文本着提高生产率和木片质量，木片合格率以及降低噪场，减少损耗的原则，比较全面地论述了国外削片机的新进展，详细说明了削片机的进料槽、出料方法、底刀、刀盘安装方式、新型飞刀以降噪等方面的改进方法及效果，介绍了几种新型多刀削片机和移动式削片机。     

Importance of capital cost reduction of chippers and their required productivity

The productivity and chipping cost of a low-investment small mobile chipper were investigated. The effect of capital cost on chipping cost reduction was analyzed by changing the service life of the chipper when assuming a target operational chipping cost set at 250 yen m^?3. Productivity of the investigated chipper was found to be at 23.7 m³ h^?1 in chip volume with fuel consumption at 14.6 L h^?1. The results showed that the chipping cost of the investigated chipper was lower than that of a higher priced and more productive grinder. Neither chipper nor grinder, however, could achieve the assumed target cost of 250 yen m^?3 even if their service lives were extended. It was necessary to withstand the initial grapple loader and the labor costs or raise the grinder’s productivity to 33 m³ h^?1 in order to reach a comparable operational cost target with that of the investigated chipper. Similarly, the grinder would have to reduce its capital cost and fuel consumption to maintain the chipping cost of 250 yen m^?3 ifproductivity could not be improved. Net chipping cost of the investigated chipper was relatively small compared to that of the tub grinder, especially under a shorter service lifespan. The investigation shows that it is feasible for small-scale forestry to introduce a low-investment mobile chipper because it does not require a large amount of material and has a low chipping cost. Moreover, lowering the capital cost or the price of chippers is a more realistic cost savings in the long term.     

Relationship between branch-scar parameters and knot features of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Libsky)

The classification of roundwood is inextricably linked to the measurement of a particular single wood defect. The appearance, location, and number of defects are important in the quality evaluation of logs and sawn timber, and the most important defects are knots. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the appearance of branch scars and features of the related knot inside oriental beech logs, and to model the relationship between well-defined branch-scar and knot parameters. One hundred and fifty knots in 15 stems of oriental beech trees were studied. Image analysis software was used to measure the branch-scar and knot features. The results showed a significant positive correlation between the branch-scar parameter “moustache length” and the knot length. The ratio of branch-seal length to width was found to be a good estimator of the stem diameter at the time of knot occlusion and the amount of clear wood between the knot occlusion and the bark. The relationship obtained for the oriental beech stem radius at time of knot occlusion confirms relationship reported for European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.).     

杨树修枝理论和技术研究进展

杨树修枝是杨树速生丰产后期经营管理中一项重要的措施,本文综述了修枝对杨树生长、材质以及林下经济的影响。修枝对杨树树高、材积生长量的影响因树种、立地、修枝强度的不同规律不同;修枝会降低胸径的生长量,提高萌枝数量,但可以提高材质。修枝对材质的影响表现在尖削度减小、节子减少、形数和形率增加等。修枝可以增强林下作物光合作用,促进林下植物生长,提高产量;实践中,修枝强度、起始年龄、修枝季节应因树种而异。目前,对于杨树修枝的研究多为短期的、单方面的,系统综合研究尚需进一步加强。     

The use of the white poplar(Populus alba L.)biomass as fuel

We determined the calorific value of white poplar(Populus alba L.) woody biomass to use it as firewood. The value of 19.133 MJ kg-1obtained experimentally shows that the white poplar can be quite successfully used as firewood. Being of a lower quality in comparison with usual beech firewood, the white poplar has similar calorific value. The white poplar has a calorific density of 30.7 % lower than that of current firewood. That is why the price of this firewood from white poplar is lower accordingly. Also, the prognosis of calorific value on the basis of the main chemical elements, being very close to the experimental value(+2.6 %), indicates an appropriate value can be achieved to be used for investigation with the chemical element analysis.     

Production of selected short-rotation wood crop species and quality of obtained biomass

Short-rotation coppice (SRC) represents an important source of wood biomass. Many uncertainties create barriers to farmers establishing SRC plantations, especially under Mediterranean climate conditions. In this study, five species and respective genotypes were analyzed. The five species were Fraxinus angustifolia, Robinia pseudoacacia, Salix alba, Populus nigra (Limatola), and Populus × euroamericana, with the genotypes of the latter being Grimminge, Vesten, Hoogvorst, Muur. For the plantations studied, two different harvesting systems were replicated: the single machine pass, or cut-and-chip (CC); and the double machine pass, for which the tree are cut first, then chipped later (chip of stored trees CS). In the CC, fresh trees were harvested and chipped by Claas Jaguar 880. In the CS, dry trees were chipped by Farmi Forest CH 260. Within the same site, in climatic conditions and low-input management, the best result in terms of biomass yield was obtained from the black poplar Limatola. Both wood typologies and harvesting systems affected the chip quality. The disk chipper, when working on dried biomass, produced lower quality chips than the other chipping device in terms of particle size. In the chips obtained, there was an increase in the number of chips classified as being “larger size” and “oversized”, and a decrease in the percentage of those classified as “accept” (45–3 mm fraction). The chips obtained from dried trees were of better energy quality compared with the same biomass obtained from the fresh trees in terms of heating value and ash content.     

Cultural and PCR‐based detection of Septoria musiva in inoculated hybrid poplar stems

The fungal pathogen Septoria musiva can be difficult to isolate from cankers that result from its colonization of poplar stems, and its persistence in these cankers has not been well studied. In order to compare cultural and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based assays for detection of S. musiva in cankers, stems of susceptible hybrid poplar clone NC11505 were wounded and inoculated in August 2003. At 8, 16, 24 and 32 weeks after inoculation (October and December 2003, February and April 2004, respectively), 110 inoculated stems (plus controls) were harvested and a semiselective culture medium was used in attempts to detect the pathogen in bark and wood. Six chips of bark and six chips of underlying wood from one half of each canker were incubated on the semiselective medium for 2 weeks until pycnidia and conidia of S. musiva could be identified. The number of positive cankers and positive chips (out of six attempts per tissue per canker) was recorded. The remaining halves of cankers from subsets of 70 inoculated stems (plus controls) of those harvested in October 2003 and April 2004 were tested using a PCR‐based assay. Three chips of bark and three chips of underlying wood were ground, and DNA was extracted and then amplified using S. musiva‐specific primers designed from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear rDNA repeats. The number of positive cankers and positive chips (out of three attempts per tissue per canker) was recorded. For both assays, the number of positive cankers and the number of positive chips per canker decreased with time. Using either assay, however, the pathogen was still detected from at least 49% of cankers at 32 weeks after inoculation.     

Densification,screw holding strength,and Brinell hardness of European beech and poplar oriented strand boards

In this study, selected mechanical properties of beech and poplar oriented strand board such as screw holding strength (SH) and Brinell hardness (BH) as well as the relationship of stress and strain under compression for both species under two temperatures (180°C and 220°C) were examined. Poly methylene diphenyl diisocyanate resinated laboratory-scale boards in different design and density of both species (650 and 720?kg/m³) were prepared. The results showed that density has a positive effect on SH and BH of panels. It was also observed that wood species (beech or poplar) and size of strands (normal or fine size) also effect on SH. Both species showed a specific behavior regarding the lapse of stress and strain during compression.     

Nutrient concentrations in roots, leaves and wood of seedling and mature sugar maple and American beech at two contrasting sites

Differences in sensitivity to soil conditions across tree species and developmental stage are important to predicting forest response to environmental change. This study was conducted to compare elemental concentrations in leaves, stems, and roots of (1) sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) seedlings vs. mature trees and (2) mature sugar maple vs. mature American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) in two sites that differ in soil base saturation and pH. Both sites are located in Huntington Forest, NY, USA; one site (hereafter ‘H’) has higher soil pH and Ca, Mg, and Mn concentrations than the other site (hereafter ‘L’). Sugar maple growth at H (14.8 cm² year⁻¹ per tree) was much greater than at L (8.6 cm² year⁻¹ per tree), but the growth of beech was not different between the two sites. Leaves, roots, and stem wood of mature beech trees and sugar maple seedlings and mature trees were sampled for nutrient analysis. Foliar Ca, K, and Al concentrations were positively correlated with soil elements, but Mn concentrations were negatively correlated. Sugar maple differed more than beech between sites in foliar K and Mn concentrations. Root Mg and P concentrations reflected soil chemistry differences, in contrast to foliar concentrations of Mg and P, which were indistinguishable between the sites. In sugar maple, seedlings differed more than in mature trees in nutrient concentrations in roots, especially for Mg and Mn. Although beech was not as responsive to nutrient availability as sugar maple in foliar and root nutrient concentrations, Ca and Mg concentrations in beech wood were higher in H (52% higher for Ca and 68% higher for Mg), while sugar maple did not differ between sites. Sugar maple regeneration failure on acidic soils in the same region is consistent with our finding that sugar maple seedlings were very sensitive to nutrient availability. This sensitivity could ultimately contribute to the replacement of sugar maple by American beech in regions of low pH and base cations if base cation leaching by anthropogenic deposition and tree harvesting continues.     

Time Consumption and Production Costs of Two Small-Scale Wood Harvesting Systems in Northern Greece

A field-based study was carried out to determine the productivity and production cost of the tree length (TL) and the wood assortment (WA) systems implemented under small-scale forestry conditions in two Scots pine stands in Northern Greece. Tree felling and processing productivity were estimated at 8.64 m³ per productive machine hour (PMH^?1) and 10.21 m³ PMH^?1, respectively. Wood felling and processing times were strongly dependent on dbh and total tree volume. However, when manual debarking was also considered the productivity rates decreased to 1.96 and 1.43 m³ PMH^?1, respectively. Skidding productivity was calculated to be 3.35 m³ PMH^?1 for TL and 7.17 m³ PMH^?1 for WA, respectively. Strong correlations have been found between the net skidding time and (a) the skidding distance and (b) the load per turn in both wood harvesting systems. Production costs varied greatly, from 19.38 € m^?3 up to 44.81 € m^?3 of roundwood depending on the harvesting system and the inclusion of debarking. The findings suggest that the WA system is more efficient in terms of productivity and production cost than TL, and that there is a substantial optimization potential. The optimization potential can be encoded in four suggestions: (a) opening up of more forest roads to reduce high skidding times, (b) replacement of manual debarking by mechanical debarking at the sawmill, (c) replacement of old pieces of equipment with newer ones and (d) training of the existing workforce.     

Active enzymes in wood chips and their action on lignin during outside storage

Summary Wood storage has a great influence on the efficiency of a pulpmill. Great problems arise when using outside chip storage, especially in processing hardwoods, in that hardwood chips discolorate after a few days, which is not the case with spruce chips. The causes of such a different behavior of beech and spruce were investigated. It could be shown that a sufficient amount of active peroxidase, malate dehydrogenase and oxygen are prerequisites for the formation of phenoxy radicals within the beech lignin. This causes formation of new chromophores that discolorize the wood. Sufficient amounts of such enzymes are present in beech wood after harvesting.     

人工林杉木和杨树木材物理力学性质的株内变异研究

按照中国国家标准研究杉木和I-214杨树木材的抗弯弹性模量、抗弯强度、顺纹抗压强度和密度,同时按照日本国家标准研究2个树种的顺纹抗剪强度.结果表明:杉木的抗弯强度、顺纹抗压强度和密度由胸高直径处向上呈波浪形增加,抗弯弹性模量则稳定降低,但不同高度间杉木的物理力学性质没有显著差异;近树皮处木材的物理力学性质高于近髓心处木材,并有极显著差异.对于I-214杨树,只有抗弯弹性模量从髓心到树皮逐渐增加,其他的物理力学性质,最小值在从髓心到树皮的过渡区,最大值在近树皮处,从髓心到树皮,杨树的物理力学性质有极显著的差异.杉木和杨树的径面顺纹抗剪强度从髓心到树皮有极显著差异,并且近树皮的高于近髓心的木材,而弦面顺纹抗剪强度从髓心到树皮没有显著差异.木材密度与力学性质有很好的线性相关关系,木材密度是一个很好的力学强度的预测手段.     

Effect of wood species,digester conditions,and defibrator disc distance on wettability of fiberboard

Wettability of medium density fiberboard (MDF) surface affects paint or adhesive application and is, thus, of importance in the course of furniture manufacturing. This study investigated the effects of wood species, digester conditions and defibrator disc distance on the wettability properties. It was found that the wettability of the MDF significantly decreased with increasing the defibrator disc distance and increased with the increment in the severity of the digestion conditions. The highest wettability was found for samples made of beech wood having an average contact angle value of 74.5°, followed by poplar wood (76.5°), birch wood (79.7°), the mixture (1:1) of scots pine and beech wood (82.9°), and scots pine wood (86.4°), respectively.