Theory of the shrinkage of wood

Summary The wood, composed of alternate earlywood and latewood lamellae, forms a statically indeterminate system with two redundants. The redundant forces are the shearing forces arising at the edge of the boundary between earlywood and latewood in the longitudinal and in the tangential directions of wood. By determining the redundant forces according to the theory of statically indeterminate systems, we know the state of stress and the state of detormation of the wood element and thus can determine its shrinkage and stresses in the longitudinal, tangential and radial directions.

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Zusammenfassung Holz ist aus Früh-und Spätholzlamellen aufgebaut und bildet damit ein statisch unbestimmtes System mit zwei statisch unbestimmten Größen. Diese statisch unbestimmten Größen sind die Scherkräfte, die in longitudinaler und tangentialer Richtung an den Kanten der Grenzschicht zwischen Früh-und Spätholz entstehen. Bestimmt man die statisch unbestimmten größen nach der Theorie der statisch unbestimmten Systeme, so kennt man den Spannungs-und Verformungszustand der Gefügeteile des Holzes und ist damit in der Lage, scine Schwindung und Schwindspannungen in longitudinaler, tangentialer und radialer Richtung zu berechnen.

     

Density and shrinkage of old wood

Summary Density and shrinkage were measured in samples of old wood preserved in a glacier, burial grounds, house settlements, harbour installations and ships sunk in the sea. Time of exposure ranged from about 300 to 100,000 years. Density was found reduced in most cases and shrinkage increased. In oak, density was reduced up to 0.13 gr/cm³ (at 12% m.c.) and a tangential shrinkage value of 62.16% was measured. Irrespective of time of exposure and loss of material, old wood retains its gross structural characteristics as long as it remains waterlogged.We would like to thank the Director of the Norwegian Nautical Museum at Bygdoy near Oslo, Mr. Svein Molaug, and Mr. Thomas Seip Bartholin of Kvartarbiologisk Laboratorium, Lunds Universitet in Sweden for valuable assistance and samples for this research project.We would also like to express our appreciation to Miss K. Corbett for assistance in photography and freeze-microtomy.     

Some studies on the shrinkage behaviour of wood

Summary Shrinkage observed on small clear specimens in radial and tangential directions and volumetric shrinkage obtained under the evaluation of physical and mechanical properties of wood have been analysed with reference to specific gravity and fibre-saturation point (FSP). It is observed that tangential shrinkage is 1.4 to 3 times that of radial shrinkage. The difference between FSP in radial and tangential direction is not so predominant; it is possibly governed by variation in specific gravity of the wood substance. The volumetric shrinkage is noted to be approximately equal to the sum of radial and tangential shrinkages. Shrinkage is found to depend on both the specific gravity of wood and FSP. Unlike Stamm's theory, their effect is found to be additive. The effect of specific gravity is found to be more than the effect of FSP.

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Zusammenfassung Die Radial- und Tangentialschwindung kleiner fehlerfreier Proben sowie die Volumenschwindung, die während der Bestimmung der physikalischen und mechanischen Eigenschaften der betreffenden Hölzer beobachtet werden konnten, wurden hinsichtlich ihres Zusammenhanges mit Dichte und Fasersättigungspunkt untersucht. Die Beobachtungen zeigten gegenüber der Radialschwindung eine 1,4... 3,0-fach größere Tangentialschwindung. Der Unterschied bei Erreichen des Fasersättigungspunktes in radialer und tangentialer Richtung ist nicht so auffällig; möglicherweise wird er überwiegend von der Dichte der Holzsubstanz bestimmt. Es konnte weiterhin festgestellt werden, daß die Volumenschwindung etwa gleich der Summe aus Tangential- und Radialschwindung ist und sowohl von der Dichte der Holzart als auch vom Fasersättigungspunkt abhängt. Entgegen der Theorie von A. J. Stamm wurde deren Wechselwirkung als additiv erkannt, wobei der Anteil der Dichte etwas größer als derjenige des Fasersättigungspunktes sein dürfte.

     

Longitudinal shrinkage of wood — Part I: Longitudinal shrinkage of thin sections

Summary The possibility of using microtomed longitudinal sections of wood for the study of longitudinal shrinkage has been investigated using hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Ait.). Cutting of the sections was shown to distort them and to affect their subsequent shrinkage. However, by increasing the inclination angle of the microtome knife, sections could be cut without change in longitudinal dimensions. The longitudinal shrinkage behaviour of such sections more than 80 m thick was little different from that of thicker sawn specimens.Measurements of longitudinal shrinkage using this technique showed that very thin sections (40 m) had greater longitudinal shrinkage than sawn wood. Partial delignification with sodium chlorite also increased longitudinal shrinkage. The longitudinal shrinkage was reproducible over successive cycles of moisture content change but not reversible, the length of a specimen at a given moisture content being less during desorption than at the same moisture content during adsorption. It is considered likely that the longitudinal shrinkage of wood is markedly affected by stresses which develop within the cell wall as the wood dries.

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Zusammenfassung Die Möglichkeit, Mikrotom-Längsschnitte zur Prüfung der Längsschwindung zu verwenden, wurde an Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Ait.) geprüft. Dabei zeigte sich, daß die Längsschnitte beim Schneiden verschoben werden, was die nachfolgende Schwindung beeinflußt. Nachdem der Schnittwinkel des Mikrotommessers vergrößert worden war, konnten die Schnitte ohne Veränderung der Längsabmessungen abgetrennt werden. Das Längsschwindungs-Verhalten solcher Schnitte von über 80 m Dicke unterschied sich nur wenig von demjenigen dickerer, gesägter Proben.Messungen der Längsschwindung mit Hilfe des beschriebenen Verfahrens zeigten, daß sehr dünne Schnitte (40 m) eine größere Längsschwindung aufweisen als gesägte Schnitte. Die teilweise Delignifizierung mit Natrium Chlorit erhöhte ebenfalls die Längsschwindung. Die Längsschwindung blieb während aufeinanderfolgender zyklischer Feuchtigkeitsänderungen reproduzierbar, war aber nicht umkehrbar. Die Länge einer Probe war, bei gleichem Feuchtigkeitsgehalt während der Desorption geringer als während der Adsorption. Es darf als wahrscheinlich angesehen werden, daß die Längsschwindung des Holzes deutlich durch Spannungen beeinflußt wird, die sich beim Trocknen des Holzes innerhalb der Zellwand entwickeln.

     

Transverse shrinkage in maritime pine juvenile wood

Summary This paper reports experimental results concerning the transverse shrinkage variability within and between trees of two samples composed of 17 eleven-year-old and 20 twenty-year-old maritime pine trees harvested in two stands at the Forest Research Centre of INRA Pierroton in Aquitaine. The within tree variations are divided into a height effect and a radial effect, both related to the occurrence of juvenile wood. It is shown that the tangential shrinkage and the anisotropic ratio between radial and tangential dimensional variations are increasing from the top to the base of the stems (+14.9% and +16.9%, respectively), and that this effect is independent of the tree. The variations from the pith outward are also significant for these parameters (+25.0% for at and –9.5% for the ratio) and for the radial shrinkage (+37.2% ), but in this case, the amplitude of the effect is depending on a tree effect. The relationship between shrinkage and density is also studied, showing poorly significant correlation when considering each sampling positions independently.     

Modelling longitudinal elastic an shrinkage properties of wood

Summary A model was developed for estimating elastic and shrinkage properties of a softwood cell wall from the properties of its polymeric constituents: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The theory of composite materials was used. Based on a literature survey, models of latewood, earlywood and compressionwood of a softwood cell wall structure were made. The model takes into account the helical winding of the microfibrils in the cell wall and it estimates the behaviour of a balanced laminated double-cell wall in which rotation is restrained by adjacent cells. The calculated elastic and shrinkage properties were compared with earlier test results and good agreement was found.     

Relationship between fibre morphology and shrinkage of wood

Summary This is a study on the shrinkage of wood representing the wide range of morphology variation in leaning trees. It involved 13 trees of Eucalyptus regnans, one of Eucalyptus sieberi and four of Pinus radiata, and specimens taken at close intervals around the circumference of each. Data indicated a systematic modulation, between extremes at upper and lower sides of each stem, in longitudinal growth strains, relative proportions of thin, medium and thick-walled fibres, microfibril angle in the S₂ layer of these, and both Klason and acid-soluble lignin content. Analyses indicated that the microfibril angle in S₂ was a prime factor in influencing both longitudinal and volumetric shrinkage reactions; proportion of thick-walled fibres in the tissue, thickness of S₂ relative to S₁, and variations in lignification also were involved. Unusually thick-walled fibres were associated with visco-elastic strain recovery effects, which could form a substantial part of dimensional changes apparently attributable to shrinkage.Relevant to 10 of the E. regnans trees in this study, appreciation is expressed to three colleagues for providing access to the detailed data on strain, cell wall thickness, and volumetric shrinkage involved in their published study [Nicholson, J. E., Hillis, W. E., and Ditchburne, N. 1975]. By prior arrangement to minimize duplication of effort, their data were derived from specimens from those trees that were involved in this study.     

Longitudinal shrinkage behaviour of compression wood in radiata pine

The behaviour of longitudinal shrinkage was investigated in the corewood of a swept, 17-year-old New Zealand radiata pine stem. Wood categories in terms of normal wood, mild compression wood and severe compression wood were identified microscopically using autofluorescence of lignin. Average longitudinal shrinkage was collated according to corewood location and wood category within corewood in the leaning and the vertical parts of the stem, and then maximum radial difference of longitudinal shrinkage within growth ring was examined. The results show that the average longitudinal shrinkage is significant (2.4%) in the corewood of the leaning part of the stem. Among wood categories, severer compression wood displays the highest (2.9%) average longitudinal shrinkage. In the context of this study, growth rings may consist of one of three types of wood: (1) only normal wood; (2) a single compression wood type; and (3) mixed-type wood. Where multiple compression woods co-existed with normal wood, the maximum radial difference of longitudinal shrinkage within the growth ring was found to be 4.0%. A strong correlation (R ² = 0.90) between average MFA and average longitudinal shrinkage suggests a significant influence of the average MFA on average longitudinal shrinkage across the three growth ring types.     

A theory of cross-sectional shrinkage distortion and its experimental verification

Summary A theory has been developed for calculating the cup and edge distortion that will occur when green boards are dried, or the moisture content of dry boards changes in service. The parameters on which the calculations are based are the annual ring orientation coordinates R and of the boards, and the transverse shrinkage factors. For boards of square-cross-section the theory agrees very closely with the shrinkage predicted by the older theory of Greenhill, MacLean and Keylwerth. For Beilschmiedia tawa specimens 50×50 mm in cross-section the experimental and calculated width and thickness shrinkage were in excellent agreement. For radiata pine boards 200×50 mm in cross-section the experimental cup, edge distortion and shrinkage in width and thickness agreed very closely with the values predicted by the theory.     

Prediction of wood stiffness, strength, and shrinkage in juvenile wood of radiata pine

Development of optimal ways to predict juvenile wood stiffness, strength, and stability using wood properties that can be measured with relative ease and low cost is a priority for tree breeding and silviculture. Wood static modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), radial, tangential, and longitudinal shrinkage (RS, TS, LS), wood density (DEN), sound wave velocity (SWV), spiral grain (SLG), and microfibril angle (MFA) were measured on juvenile wood samples from lower stem sections in two radiata pine test plantations. Variation between inner (rings 1–2 from pith) and outer (rings 3–6 from pith) rings was generally larger than that among trees. MOE and MOR were lower (50%) in inner-rings than in outer-rings. RS and TS were higher (30–50%) for outer-rings than inner-rings, but LS decreased rapidly (>200%) from inner-rings to outer-rings. DEN had a higher correlation with MOR than with MOE, while MFA had a higher correlation with dry wood MOE than with MOR. SLG had higher significant correlation with MOE than with MOR. DEN and MOE had a weak, significant linear relationship with RS and TS, while MOE had a strong negative non-linear relationship with LS. Multiple regressions had a good potential as a method for predicting billet stiffness (R ² > 0.42), but had only a weak potential to predict wood strength and shrinkage (R ² < 0.22). For wood stiffness acoustic velocity measurements seemed to be the most practical, and for wood strength and stability acoustic velocity plus core density seemed to be the most practical measurements for predicting lower stem average in young trees.     

Transverse shrinkage anisotropy of coniferous wood investigated by the power spectrum analysis

The transverse shrinkage behavior of early wood and late wood tracheids of radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) was investigated by the power spectrum analysis. The representative cell model shapes before and after shrinkage constructed by the analysis revealed that the early wood tracheid showed anisotropic shrinkage, although the late wood tracheid showed almost isotropic shrinkage. To link the macroscopic shrinkage of coniferous wood with the results obtained by the power spectrum analysis, a two-layer model composed of early wood and late wood was adopted, and the relation between shrinkage anisotropy and late wood fraction was predicted. The results suggested that the shrinkage anisotropy depended significantly on the mechanical interaction between early and late wood.Part of this report was presented at the 46th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society at Kumamoto, April 1996     

SEM and shrinkage analyses of Southern Pine wood following pyrolysis

Summary Samples of Southern Pine (Pinus spp.) charred to 250°, 300°, 350°, 400° or 600°C in a flowing nitrogen atmosphere at rates of 1°, 10° and 50°C/min were examined using the scanning electron microscope to quantify changes in cross-sectional tracheid dimensions. The disappearance of discrete cell wall layers was time-dependent as opposed to strictly temperature-dependent. Tracheid diameters decreased in response to temperature and charring rate. Double cell wall thickness values also decreased in response to charring. This shrinkage was nearly isotropic. Below 300°C, latewood cells were more stable than earlywood cells. Above 300°C, the reverse was true. This was attributed to the probable circumferential arrangement of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin within the cell wall. The highest rate of thermal degradation was between 300° and 350°C.The sample material was prepared by F. C. Beall and D. H. Slocum at the University of TorontoThe authors are Assistant Professor of Forestry, Professor of Biological Sciences and Professor of Forestry, respectively, at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia     

杉木无性系木材干缩性与吸水性的变异

以102个17年生杉木无性系为试材,对木材的干缩性与吸水性进行测定分析发现,木材干缩性、吸水性在杉木无性系间差异极显著;干缩性变异幅度为3.1%～20.0%,表型变异系数达59.8%;吸水性变异幅度在214.5%～338.1%间,表型变异系数为13.2%。木材干缩性与吸水性均具有明显的无性系方差分量,表明杉木木材干缩性与吸水性受遗传控制。进一步研究显示,杉木无性系木材干缩性遗传变异系数为38.6%,重复力为0.390,均属中低水平;吸水性遗传变异系数值虽较低,但重复力相对较高(0.664),属中上水平;在不同入选率(10%、20%、30%)下,木材干缩性与吸水性随入选率的降低其遗传增益值(绝对值)不断提高。研究还发现,杉木木材干缩性与木材基本密度、心材比间为极显著遗传负相关,与木材吸水性间则表现为极显著遗传正相关;木材吸水性在遗传水平上与胸径、材积、心材比间呈极显著正相关,而与木材基本密度间为极显著负相关。     

长江滩地杨木密度和干缩性的研究

对安庆段长江滩地I-72杨的密度和干缩性进行了研究。结果表明:I-72杨的气干密度、全干密度和基本密度分别为0.454 g/cm3、0.415 g/cm3和0.364 g/cm3;I-72杨木材密度的径向变异为自髓心向外,最初递减,然后再向外层递增;轴向变异为沿树干向上逐渐增加;I-72杨的径向、弦向和体积全干缩率分别为3.917%、8.093%和12.138%,体积干缩系数为0.169,差异干缩为2.107;I-72杨5.3 m高度处的径向、弦向和体积全干缩率测量值均大于1.3 m高度处的测量值。     

Modelling elastic and shrinkage properties of wood based on cell structure

Summary In a previous article of the authors a model was developed for estimating elastic and shrinkage properties of a softwood cell-wall. In the present article this model is enlarged to simulate the elastic properties of defect-free softwoods. The wood model consists of earlywood, latewood and ray cells, each of which have a different cell-wall structure. In the model the ratio of earlywood to latewood is defined by a given wood density. The calculated elastic properties are in good agreement with test results.     

A THEORY OF DETERMINING MASS TRANSFERPARAMETERS FOR WOOD PARTICLE MATERIALS

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On the theory of elasticity of the orthotropic material wood

Summary Aim of this study is to determine the basic equations concerning the second boundary value problem of the theory of elasticity in particular for construction wood. For rhombic orthotropic materials, as represented for example by straight grained wooden constructions, the equations are calculated in Cartesian co-ordinates. For cylindrical orthotropic materials, as represented for example by curved laminated beams, the equations are calculated in cylindrical co-ordinates. In both cases the equations are determined for space stress problems. Assuming the plain stress condition the basic equations of plain stress problems can then be derived from the spatial equations.