Dimensional stabilization of compressed laminated veneer lumber by hot pressing in an airtight frame

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dimensional stability and strength properties of compressed laminated veneer lumber (LVL) produced using a closed hot pressing system. LVL specimens were produced with varying number of veneers using either diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) or a water-soluble phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin at varying temperatures (160–200°C), pressures (0.5–3 MPa) and hot-pressing times (2–16 min). Results show that the heating process decreases the recovery of compressive deformation in the veneers when subjected to cyclic moisture and heat conditions. Thickness swelling was approximately 5% after a drying, wetting and boiling cyclic test for LVL using the MDI resin and hot pressed at 200°C for 8 min. Modulus of elasticity and rupture increased for samples produced in both an open press and the closed press with an increase in the number of veneers and density, as did the absorbed energy in impact bending.     

桉木单板层积材生产工艺的优化

采用响应面法(RSM)和中心组合旋转设计(CCRD),研究了桉树单板层积材(LVL)的生产工艺条件,并对优化工艺所得的预测值进行了实验验证。方差分析结果表明:面粉添加量对桉木LVL的静曲强度(MOR)和弹性模量(MOE)有着显著影响,而热压温度和热压时间的影响不显著。通过回归分析,建立了相应的回归模型。回归模型的预测值与实验值的拟合良好,说明回归方程能用来预测和优化桉木LVL的力学强度性能。最佳工艺条件为:热压温度130℃,热压时间1.5 min/mm,面粉添加量5%(质量分数)。在此工艺条件下压制的桉木LVL垂直加载条件下的静曲强度(MOR⊥)和弹性模量(MOE⊥)分别为89 MPa和16 722 MPa,平行加载条件下的静曲强度(MOR∥)和弹性模量(MOE∥)分别为88 MPa和15 067 MPa,MOR和MOE分别达到了结构用单板层积材国家标准的优等品和140E级别。     

不同因素对竹/木复合强化单板层积材MOE、MOR的影响

以杨木单板和竹帘为原料,采用低分子量水溶性酚醛树脂浸渍处理,通过干燥、组坯、热压等工艺制备竹木复合强化单板层积材。探讨了组坯方式、压缩率、热压温度、热压时间4个因素对竹木复合强化单板层积材弹性模量(MOE)和静曲强度(MOR)的影响。结果表明:表层为一层竹帘的竹木复合强化单板层积材的MOE和MOR较大,分别是13．43GPa、148．13MPa,与表层为杨木单板次表层为竹帘组坯方式相比分别增加了33．63％、56．16％。确定了竹木复合强化单板层积材较合理的制造工艺参数。     

杉木热处理材结晶度及力学性能的研究

热处理对木材力学性能的影响是多样的,这与热处理条件下木材的物理化学变化密切相关。本次研究将杉木板材在160℃、180℃和220℃常压蒸汽条件下进行热处理,考察处理材的结晶度、抗弯弹性模量、抗弯强度及相互可能的关联。结果表明,热处理使试材结晶度增加,有助于提高木材的刚性,使热处理材的抗弯弹性模量高于常规对照材;结晶度的提高对抗弯强度没有改善作用,热处理后试材的抗弯强度明显下降。     

Estimation of the internal shear strength distribution of the element for laminated veneer lumber by nonlinear least-squares method

Until now we developed an estimation method for strength distributions of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) element by nonlinear least-squares method (NLM). Estimated strengths by this method were modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) in the horizontal use direction and the vertical use direction, tensile strength and compression strength. But to use LVL for structural members, shear strength was also needed. Therefore, we tried to estimate the shear strength distribution of LVL element by NLM same as MOE and MOR in the horizontal use direction and the vertical use direction, the tensile strength of LVL and the compression strength of LVL in the previous reports. We conducted shear strength test for LVL and estimated element shear strength distribution by LVL strength data in the horizontal and vertical use direction. Next, we simulated LVL shear strength distribution using element shear strength distribution and compared with experimental ones in each use direction. They were overlapped in both use direction. Therefore, we could validate NLM for estimating element shear strength distribution.     

Long-term material properties of circular hollow laminated veneer lumber sections under water saturation and cement alkaline attack

ABSTRACT

Innovative beech laminated veneer lumber (LVL) circular hollow sections for the use as temporary geotechnical soil nailing systems are currently being developed. Due to the permanent subsoil cement embedment, combined with high water saturation and permanent loading, the timber sections will lose strength and stiffness over time to a degree currently unknown. This paper presents the tensile and bending material properties of flat and curved beech LVL under various periods of immersion in a water–cement grout solution aiming at inducing both water saturation and long-term alkaline attack of the timber. In total, 824 and 279 samples were tested in tension and bending, respectively. Results show that samples manufactured from 3?mm thick veneers result in tensile strength and stiffness 17% and 24% higher, respectively, than samples manufactured from 2?mm thick veneers. A reduction in the initial bending and tensile strength of up to 70% was found after 90 days of water saturation and cement contact. Taking into account a duration of load factor for permanent loading of two years, it is recommended to reduce the short-term tensile and bending strength of beech circular hollow sections to be used as geotechnical anchors by 80%.     

Performance of samama (Anthocephalus macrophyllus) LVL based on veneer thickness,juvenile proportion and lay-up

ABSTRACT

A study to determine the quality of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) from samama wood (Anthocephalus macrophyllus) was carried out. Samama is a fast-growing endemic wood in eastern Indonesia. Factorial of three factors in RAL design was used to investigate the influence of veneer thickness, juvenile proportion and veneer lay-up to the quality of the resulted samama LVL. The veneer thicknesses were 1.5 and 3.0?mm. Juvenile proportions were arranged in five levels, which were 100% of juvenile veneer, 100% of mature veneer and combination of both juvenile and mature with juvenile proportion of 14%, 43% and 71%. Two veneer lay-up used in this study were loose side met loose side and tight side met loose side. The result of the study showed various specific gravity of LVL by different proportions of juvenile. This factor also affected the other physical traits. Shear strength of the LVL was equal to the solid wood, yet MOE and MOR were affected by juvenile proportion and veneer lay-up. LVL developed from 100% of mature veneer exhibited the highest MOE and MOR, yet no significant difference was noted in MOE and MOR between LVL 100% of juvenile and other tested juvenile proportions.     

Outdoor exposure tests of structural laminated veneer lumber (II): evaluation of the strength properties after nine years

To investigate the durability of structural laminated veneer lumber (LVL), outdoor exposure tests have been conducted since 1990 at a field-testing site at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute. This article is the second interim report on the results after 9 years of exposure. Seven kinds of structural LVL with no preservative treatment were subjected to the tests. Almost all the exposed specimens were decayed by a kind of brown rot fungi (Pseudomerulius aureus (Fr.) Julich). The degree of decay varied with wood species; grand fir and western hemlock LVL in particular showed weak resistance against the decay. All the specimens were stored for more than 1 year in a testing room conditioned at 20°C and 65% relative humidity. We then measured the ultrasonic velocity of the specimens by the Pundit method, penetration depth by the Pilodyn method, and bending strength by a conventional bending test. Correlation between nondestructive measurement factors and the density was strong even on LVL with many adhesive layers. The nondestructive testing method was found to be applicable to LVL as well as solid lumber. After the nondestructive measurements, each LVL was cut into three types of specimen (top: T, middle: M, and bottom: B) for the bending tests. The bending strength varied with the type of specimens. Correlation between modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture was strong even in the decayed specimens.     

Assessment of flexural properties of different grade dimension lumber by ultrasonic technique

The dimension lumber （45mm×90mm×3700mm） of plantation Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata （Lamb.） Hook.） was graded to four different classes as SS, No. 1, No.2 and No.3, according to national lumber grades authority （NLGA） for structure light framing and structure joists and planks. The properties of apparent density was determined at 15% moisture content, bending strength and stiffness were tested according to American Society for Testing and Materials （ASTM） D198-99, and dynamic modulus of elasticity （Eusw） was measured by ultrasonic technique, for predicting the flexural properties of different grade lumbers. The results showed that Eosw was larger than the static MOE. The relationship between Eusw and static MOE was significant at 0.01 level, and the determination coefficients （R2） of the four grade lumbers followed the sequence as R^2No.2 （0.616）〉 R^2ss （0.567）〉 R^2No1 （0.366）〉 R^2No.3 （0.137）. The R^2 of Fusw and MOR were lower than that of the Etru and MOR for each grade. The Eusw of all the grade lumbers, except No.3-grade, had significant correlation with the static MOE and MOR, thus the bending strengthof those grade lumbers can be estimated by the E The Etru valuesof four grade lumbers followed a sequence as No.2-grade （10.701 GPa） 〉 SS-grade （10.359 GPa） 〉 No.l-grade （9.840 GPa） 〉 No.3-grade （9.554 GPa）. For the same grade dimension lumber, its Eusw value was larger than static MOE. Mean values of MOR for four grade lumbers follow a sequence as No.2-grade （48.67 MPa） 〉 SS-grade （48.16 MPa） 〉 No.3-grade （46.55 MPa） 〉 No. 1-grade （43.39MPa）.     

The variation of microfibril angle in South African grown Pinus patula and its influence on the stiffness of structural lumber

Reduction in the rotation ages of softwood saw-log plantations in South Africa is causing increased proportions of low stiffness sawn lumber at final harvest. It has been shown for some species that the microfibril angle (MFA) of the S2 layer of tracheids is strongly related to the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of wood, even more so than wood density, especially in wood formed during juvenile growth. The objectives of this study were to describe the variation in MFA in young Pinus patula trees and to determine the relationship between MFA and the dynamic MOE of sawn P. patula lumber. Thirty 16- to 20-year-old trees from six compartments from the Mpumalanga escarpment were processed into discs and lumber. The MFA, density and ring width were measured at two height levels using Silviscan 3. The average annual ring MFA varied between 7° and 29°; the pattern of variation depended mainly on height level and the ring number from the pith. The MFA in P. patula followed the same within-tree variation trends as in New Zealand-grown Pinus radiata but the average MFA was lower in absolute terms and differences between height levels were less pronounced. The MFA and density exhibited highly significant Pearson correlations of 0.73 and 0.70, respectively, with board dynamic MOE. A multiple regression model, which included MFA, density and ring width, explained 71% of the variation in the dynamic MOE of boards. A sensitivity analysis on the model showed that MFA and density had approximately similar influences on predicting the dynamic MOE of Pinus patula boards.     

Properties of curved laminated veneer lumber made from fast-growing species with radiofrequency heating for use in furniture

Curved laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is manufactured from glue-coated pieces of rotary-cut veneers assembled and pressed between molds. In this study, curved LVLs were produced from two fast-growing wood species such as massion pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) and poplar (Populus euramericana CV. I.) for use in furniture. In addition to the applicability of the two wood species used, the optimum technological conditions of curved LVL production with radiofrequency (RF) heating and the physical and mechanical properties of curved LVL were investigated. The results are as follows: (1) Curved LVL made from massion pine and fast-growing poplar shows excellent mechanical properties. These fast-growing wood species are suitable for curved LVL being used as furniture structural members. (2) The mechanical properties of curved LVL are affected by frequency, voltage, RF application time, and moisture content, with the RF application time and moisture content having more important effects on the mechanical properties than the frequency and the voltage. (3) The mechanical properties of curved LVL increase with a linear increase in the density of curved LVL.The abstract of this study was presented at the 9th Annual Meeting of the Chugoku Shikoku Branch of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tottori, October 4, 1997     

Outdoor exposure tests of structural laminated veneer lumber I: evaluation of the physical properties after six years

To investigate the durability of structural laminated veneer lumber (LVL), outdoor exposure tests have been conducted since 1990 at a field-testing site at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute. This paper is an interim report on the results after 6 years' exposure. Seven kinds of structural LVL with no preservative treatment were subjected to the tests. These specimens were sampled at the testing site each year and then stored for more than 1 year in a testing room conditioned at 20°C and 65% relative humidity. We then measured the modulus of elasticity (MOE) by longitudinal vibration frequency, the penetration depth by the Pilodyn method, weight loss, color difference (E ^*) by the CIEL ^* a ^* b ^* system, swelling, compression strength, and bending-shear strength. Deterioration caused by outdoor exposure was obvious in the color, weight, MOE, and compressive strength of LVLs, but not in the penetration depth by the Pilodyn method or the bending-shear strength. The retention values of MOE and compressive strength after 6 years of exposure were 78% and 77%, respectively. The difference in durability among material species was not significant in general, except that heavy decay by brown rot fungi took place on some of the grand fir specimens. It should be noted that no significant delamination occurred in any of the adhesive layers, although slight checks developed on the surface of the specimens.     

Properties of red maple laminated veneer lumber impregnated with waterborne micronized and two soluble copper formulations

ABSTRACT

Certain important quality parameters of red maple (Acer rubrum) laminated veneer lumber (LVL) impregnated with three waterborne formulations: copper azole (CA-B), micronized copper azole (MicroCA or MCA) and alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ-D) bonded with phenol formaldehyde or cross-linked polyvinyl acetate (XPVAc) adhesives were evaluated. Pre-dipping of veneers before LVL production and two post-manufacturing procedures, viz., vacuum-pressure and post-dipping of LVL, were applied. Maximum copper retention in pre-dip-treated, vacuum-pressure and post-dip-treated LVL was 1.4, 9.7 and 1.7?kg/m³, respectively. Copper retention in MCA-treated LVL was relatively lower than soluble formulations. Various physical, mechanical and bonding properties of treated LVL such as density, water absorption, swelling, flexural properties, hardness, tensile shear strength, delamination and wood failure (%) were studied and compared with untreated LVL. Little to negligible deleterious effect was observed on properties of LVL due to these chemical treatments. Analysis of variance results showed that most of properties of red maple LVL were not significantly different compared with those of untreated LVL. Therefore, vacuum-pressure impregnation process can be used to treat the red maple LVL with novel micronized copper formulations for increasing the service life of such products against biodegradation without affecting techno-mechanical quality parameters.     

Composite behavior of laminated strand lumber

The mechanical properties of laminated strand lumber are dependent on the orientation of strands and on the variability of strand alignment in the production process. A model is proposed to predict the in-plane properties and their statistical distributions to allow manufacturers to set target reliability levels for their products. The model is based on the theory of mechanics of composites and assumes homogeneity in each panel layer to allow for multiple-layer panels to be simulated. To verify the model, five types of panels are fabricated using aspen strands with the following stacking sequences: (a) fully-oriented (0° throughout); (b) fully-random (R throughout); (c) random core/oriented surfaces (0°/R/R/0°); (d) random surfaces/oriented core (R/0°/0°/R); and (e) eight oriented layers (0°/+45°/-45°/0°/0°/-45°/+45°/0°). In-plane elastic moduli and ultimate strengths (in tension, compression, and shear) are determined for each panel type. Model predictions match well with experimental results. Properties are shown to be dependent on the degree of strand alignment in each panel type. Using the first-order reliability method, statistical distributions on the properties were predicted and found to compare well with experimental results. A method is proposed for dealing with misalignment of strands based on the von Mises distribution of strand angles to assist manufacturers with production process optimization.     

Bearing properties of engineered wood products I: effects of dowel diameter and loading direction

The embedment tests of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) with two moduli of elasticity (MOE; 7.8 GPa and 9.8GPa), parallel strand lumber (PSL), and laminated strand lumber (LSL) were conducted in accordance with ASTM-D 5764. The load-embedment relation for each of these engineered wood products (EWPs) was established. The directional characteristics of bearing strength (_e), initial stiffness (k _e), and effective elastic foundation depth were obtained from the tested results. The effective elastic foundation depth (=E/k _e,E = MOE), based on the theory of a beam on elastic foundation, was obtained from thek _e and MOE. An of 90° (perpendicular to the grain) was calculated by dividingE ₉₀ [MOE of 90° from the compression test, but MOE of 0° (E ₀), parallel to the grain, obtained from the bending test] byk _e90, the initial stiffness of 90°. This study aimed to obtain the bearing characteristics of each EWP, taking into consideration their anisotropic structures, for estimating the fastening strength of a dowel-type fastener. The relations between the bearing coefficients ( _e,k _e,) on the loading direction and dowel diameter were established from the load-embedment curves. Based on the results of the embedment test, tested EWPs showed different tendencies in all directions from wood and glued laminated timber.Part of this study was presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 1999     

The effect of number of joints on bending properties of laminated lumber made from poplar (Populus nigra)

Connection plays an important role in structural components and end jointing is one of the most common connections in structural applications.This study was designed to investigate some mechanical properties (MOE and MOR) of solid wood samples manufactured from poplar (Populus nigra),joined together through end jointing.As well,we studied combinations of lumber manufactured from 10-mm veneer,using a polyvinyl acetate adhesive.The results show that non-jointed lumber (control samples) have better bending properties (MOE and MOR) than jointed specimens and lumber made from laminated layers.On the whole,side-byside joints have a negative effect on the MOR and MOE of laminated products,which is more pronounced in the MOR.By increasing the number of joints,the properties of combination of three-ply,i.e.,bending strength and modulus of elasticity,decreased.     

Wood drying process: impact on Scots pine lumber durability

There are indications that the drying process may have negative effects on the natural durability of wood. The impact of various drying processes on the durability of Scots pine lumber has been evaluated with mass loss in a decay test with brown rot fungus, Coniophora puteana, as measure of the decay resistance of sapwood and inner and outer heartwood. Drying with or without steam conditioning was performed in six different series: air drying, kiln drying at temperature ranges commonly used in Swedish sawmills at 70°C and 90°C with two different regulation principles, and one high-temperature drying at 110°C. Durability varied considerably both between and within boards. Sapwood showed considerable less durability than heartwood. No difference in durability was found between inner heartwood and outer heartwood. Air-dried heartwood showed the highest durability compared to other drying series. The lowest durability in sapwood and heartwood was found for series dried at the 90°C temperature level with high material temperature early in drying. The interpretation is that the duration of high material temperature at high moisture content (MC) is the critical combination for decay resistance in heartwood. Steam conditioning after drying decreased durability in sapwood.     

Development of structural composite products made from bamboo II: fundamental properties of laminated bamboo lumber

This experiment explored the technical feasibility of using bamboo zephyr mat with pre-hot-pressed treatment for the manufacture of laminated bamboo lumber (LBL), which is similar in construction to that of laminated veneer lumber (LVL). Six LBL boards (made from four-ply bamboo zephyr mats) with approximate dimensions of 2×42× 42cm were fabricated using resorcinol-based adhesive. The experimental design involved three combinations of layered structures (types I, II, and III) and two LBL loading positions (H-beam and V-beam) during the bending test. These materials were then compared to ordinary LVL. Results indicated that the bending properties (moduli of rupture and elasticity) of LBL were comparable to those of LVL, but there was no significant effect on the physical and mechanical properties among the three types of LBL beam. Interestingly, orienting the glue line to the vertical direction (V-beam) could maximize the ultimate strength of the LBL.Part of this research was presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo. April 1999, and at the Pacific Timber Engineering Conference, Rotorua, New Zealand, March 1999     

Genetic variation and relationships to growth traits for microfibril angle,wood density and modulus of elasticity in a Picea abies clonal trial in southern Sweden

Abstract

Genetic variation in wood density, microfibril angle (MFA), wood stiffness (MOE), height, diameter and volume was investigated in a 26-year-old Norway spruce [(Picea abies (L.) Karst.] clonal trial in southern Sweden. Wood quality measurements were performed on 10 mm increment cores using SilviScan. For MFA, mean values of annual rings showed the highest value (30°) at ring 2 counting from the pith, followed by a steep decrease and a gradual stabilization around ring 12 at approximately 14°. MOE showed a monotonic increase from 5 GPa to 14 GPa when moving from pith to bark. High broad-sense heritability values were found for wood density (0.48), MFA (0.41) and MOE (0.50). All growth traits displayed heritability values of similar magnitudes as reported in earlier studies. The generally high age–age correlations between different sections of the wood cores suggested that early selection for wood quality traits would be successful. Owing to unfavorable genetic correlations between volume and MOE, the correlated response indicated that selection for volume only at age 10 would result in a 0.27% decrease in weighted MOE at age 26 for every 1% increase in volume.     

Efficiency of early selection for rotation-aged wood quality traits in radiata pine

A total of 360 bark-to-bark-through-pith wood strips were sampled at breast height from 180 trees in 30 open-pollinated families from two rotation-aged genetic trials to study inheritance, age-age genetic correlation, and early selection efficiency for wood quality traits in radiata pine. Wood strips were evaluated by SilviScan® and annual pattern and genetic parameters for growth, wood density, microfibril angle (MFA), and stiffness (modulus of elasticity: MOE) for early to rotation ages were estimated. Annual ring growth was the largest between ages 2–5 years from pith, and decreased linearly to ages 9–10. Annual growth was similar and consistent at later ages. Wood density was the lowest near the pith, increased steadily to age 11–15 years, then was relatively stable after these ages. MFA was highest (35°) near the pith and reduced to about 10° at age 10–15 years. MFA was almost unchanged at later ages. MOE increased from about 2.5 GPa near the pith to about 20 GPa at ages 11–15 years. MOE was relatively unchanged at later ages. Wood density and MOE were inversely related to MFA. Heritability increased from zero near the pith and stabilised at ages 4 or 5 for all four growth and wood quality traits (DBH, density, MFA and MOE). Across age classes, heritability was the highest for area-weighted density and MFA, lowest for DBH, and intermediate for MOE. Age-age genetic correlations were high for the four traits studied. The genetic correlation reached 0.8 after age 7 for most traits. Early selection for density, MFA and MOE were very effective. Selection at age 7–8 has similar effectiveness as selection conducted at rotation age for MFA and MOE and at least 80% effective for wood density.