Comparisons of bearing properties for various oriented glulam using digital image correlation

The goal of this study was to analyze the bearing properties of the differently oriented glulam using digital image correlation (DIC). Six differently oriented specimens associated with three anatomical directions including longitudinal (L), radial (R), and tangential (T), and 12-mm drift pins were used to analyze the bearing properties, including yield load and bearing strength. The highest bearing strength of 22.57 MPa from RL was found, whereas the lowest bearing strength of 6.47 MPa from LR was found. Different strain distributions were observed from the differently oriented bearing specimens using DIC. Different failure ratios of the differently oriented specimens were highly related to the strain distributions. Although the bearing properties were found to be different between the differently oriented specimens, for the connection design aspect, the bearing properties of glulam could be grouped as RL and TL specimens, RT and TR specimens, and LR and LT specimens.     

Size effect of glulam beams in tension perpendicular to grain

The strength of wood is reduced when the stressed volume is increased. The phenomenon is termed size effect and is often explained as being stochastic in the sense that the probability of weak locations occurring in the wood increases with increased volume. This paper presents the hypothesis that the lower strength is caused by stress concentrations. The stress concentrations arise from the anisotropic structure of wood, and are therefore deterministic. The hypothesis is substantiated through extensive FEM-calculations and experiments. A reasonable agreement between ultimate stresses determined experimentally and in FEM-computations was found.     

Shear tests of timber joints composed of sugi composite glulam beams using newly developed steel connectors

A research project supported by the Japan Wood Working Machinery Association has been conducted since 1999 to examine the feasibility of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) composite glulam beams reinforced with Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco) lamination. This study, part of the project, was concerned with the strength properties of timber joints composed of composite glulams using newly developed structural steel connectors. Two types of beam were prepared: 10 plies (inner 6 plies sugi, outer 4 plies Douglas fir) and 8 plies (inner 4 plies sugi, outer 4 plies Douglas fir). Two types of structural steel connector, Haratec and Standard, were used for joining the beam with a post or a girder. The relation between load and deformation of the joints was represented as a typical nonlinear curve. Initial stiffness and maximum load of the joint composed of the composite glulam were in the range between those of sugi and Douglas fir. Strength properties of the joints varied with three variables: type of connector, depth of the glulams, and the type of joint. Thus, the allowable loads for the connectors should be determined for each combination of these variables.     

Height-diameter models with random coefficients and site variables for tree species of Central Maine

Height-diameter models were developed for nine tree species common to the northeastern United States: Abies balsamea, Acer rubrum, Betula papyrifera, B. populifolia, Picea rubens, P. mariana, Pinus strobus, Populus tremuloides, and Tsuga canadensis. Stem heights and diameters were collected from 6 146 trees (between 136 and 2615 trees per species) on 50 plots within 10 structurally diverse stands that are part of a long-term silvicultural experiment in central Maine. The models were developed using both generalized nonlinear least squares (GNLS) and multi-level, mixed-effects approaches. Mixed-effects approaches were superior to GNLS, with inclusion of site covariates (tree density and basal area) accounting for some of the variability explained by the random coefficients in the full mixed-effect models. Analysis of plot-level parameter estimates suggested that differences in stand structure (even-aged vs. uneven-aged silvicultural practices) had a significant influence on the height-diameter relationships.     

A decision support tool approach based on the Electre TRI-B method for the valorisation of tropical timbers from the Congo Basin: an application for glulam products

An alternative approach to the formal management strategy of tropical timber species from the Congo Basin was investigated. It focused on the development of glulam, with an aim to specify a decision support model for the valorisation of tropical timber species considered for use in these products. There were 76 forest species analysed regarding ecological, engineering and social criteria according to their major uses. The Electre TRI-B multicriteria sorting method was used. The main result was a new and robust classification tool of timber species from the Congo Basin, corresponding to their multicriteria consensus degree. The potentials of the new grouping system were analysed. Species that meet a great majority of criteria were identified. They were highly suitable for sustaining the market position of glulam products. Implementing this strategy may significantly improve the management and increase the value of the timber species from the Congo Basin, while preserving endangered species.     

A method to estimate the structural parameters of windbreaks using remote sensing

Windbreaks are a major component of agroforestry practices and play an important role in agroforestry ecosystems. They can reduce wind velocity and protect shelter crops from wind damage and soil from wind erosion. Porosity is one of the most important structural parameters that affect wind speed and is widely used in the study of wind protection provided by windbreaks. In this paper, a method to estimate porosity using high-resolution satellite imagery is represented. Porosity was difficult to estimate through the direct use of remote sensing data due to the poor relationship with vegetation indices. Thus, two intermediate variables, that is, CL ² × LAI and CL × LAI × W, which were highly related to porosity, were selected. Leaf area index (LAI) and average tree crown length (CL) were estimated using vegetation indices, and W, which refers to the width of a windbreak, was identified using object-based image analysis. Porosity was estimated using a statistical relationship between porosity and intermediate variables. The average prediction accuracy of the estimated porosity value was 76.104 %. Based on the estimated porosity value, the windbreaks were grouped into three types, and their efficiency of wind protection was evaluated. The evaluation result indicated that the windbreaks have a very good protective structure in the study area and they can effectively shelter crops from wind damage and erosion. This study can provide a useful guide for studying the wind protection provided by windbreaks on spatial and temporal scales using remote sensing.     

Modelling the site index of Pinus pinaster plantations in Turkey using ecological variables

The determination of site productivity in forest ecosystems plays a crucial role in resource management.This study was carried out to identify relationships between site characteristics and height growth of Corsican maritime pine(Pinus pinaster Ait.) plantations in Turkey.Sixty-nine sample plots 20 years of age were selected from locations with different inclinations,aspects,elevations,slope positions and site class.Soil samples were taken at various depths.Height and age were measured on a dominant tree after felling in each plot.Physical and chemical properties of the soil were determined.Relationships between site index(SI_(25)) and physiographic factors,climatic attributes as well as soil properties were evaluated using correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.Site index was significantly related with annual precipitation,mean spring rainfall,rainfall June to September,rainfall of the driest month,length of the dry period,mean maximum temperature,mean temperature of the warmest month,stoniness of the soil,sand,silt,clay,pH,electrical conductivity,and available water capacity.Multiple regression accounted for 57.9% of variations in height growth.The models obtained can be used to determine the site index of potential areas in Turkey for maritime pine.It can be said that the productivity of maritime pine may decline in the future due to global climate change.     

Application of the SB distribution to the simulation of correlated lumber properties data

Summary With the emergence of probabilistic design procedures, the need for precise knowledge of the entire probability distributions of load effects and material resistance has never been greater. In order to evaluate these distributions, simulation techniques have provided a reliable and cost and time effective alternative to large scale destructive testing. With the use of the Johnson's S_B probability distribution, a closed-form, analytic procedure has been developed to model the inherent variability in strength, given some nondestructively evaluated parameter. This modeling procedure serves as the basis of a verified simulation process to predict a strength distribution, given a probability distribution of the NDE parameter. The approach presented here, represents a closed-form, analytic solution to a problem which has heretofore been treated in a more subjective fashion. This simulation procedure is complemented by a stratified sampling scheme.The author wishes to recognize Engineering Data Management, Inc. for the use of their computer software, STADMAN, and the Mc Intire-Stennis Research Program for the financial support of this study     

Evaluation of rolling shear strength of plywood by flexural vibration method

The rolling shear strength of plywood was evaluated using a flexural vibration test. Test specimens were lauan and Douglas fir three-ply plywoods made from thick veneers. The dynamic shear and Young's moduli were determined using the flexural vibration method, which involved in-plane and out-of-plane flexural vibration. The rolling shear strength was determined using the static destructive method, which is dependent on the direction of the lathe check in the core veneer. Before and after accelerated aging treatments were conducted, there were relations between out-of-plane dynamic properties (out-of-plane shear and Young's moduli) and its rolling shear strength. It was concluded that the rolling shear strength is related not only to the shear property of the core but the flexural stiffness of two faces when the deformation of out-of-plane plywood was not restrained.Part of this work was presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of The Japan Wood Research Society, Kochi, April 1997     

比重计法测定酸性土壤机械组成的方法改进

对酸性土壤机械组成的传统方法进行了改进,土样分散改加热微沸为振荡,并对不同振荡时间进行了探索性实验,实验结果表明,在最大转速,振荡时间为15min,可得到与加热微沸1h(国标法)同样的效果。     

Species variables or environmental variables as indicators of forest biodiversity: a case study using saproxylic beetles in Maritime pine plantations

? To assess the sustainability of plantation forest management we compare two types of biodiversity indicators. We used the species richness of saproxylic beetles as a case study to test the “species” and “environmental” indicator approaches. We compared single species abundance or occurrence and deadwood volume or diversity as predictor variables.

? Beetles were sampled with flight interception traps in 40 Maritime pine plantation stands. The volume and diversity of deadwood was estimated with line intersect and plot sampling in the same stands. Predictive models of species richness were built with simple linear or Partial Least Square regressions.

? Deadwood variables appeared to be good predictors of saproxylic beetle richness at the stand-scale with at least 75% of variance explained. Deadwood diversity variables consistently provided better predictive models than volume variables. The best environmental indicator was the diversity of deadwood elements larger than 15 cm in diameter.

? By contrast, the use of “species variables” appeared to be less relevant. To reach the quality of prediction obtained with “environmental variables”, the abundance or occurrence of 6 to 7 species — some of which are difficult to identify — had to be used to build the indicator.

     

桦木顺纹抗压强度的SEPA-VISSA-RVM近红外光谱预测

木材顺纹抗压强度是评价木材力学性能的重要指标,而传统测量方法操作复杂、精确度低。以桦木为例,提出基于近红外光谱技术(NIR)的SEPA-VISSA-RVM木材顺纹抗压强度模型,实现对其更加精确的预测。试验选取100个木材试件,在900~1700 nm近红外光谱波段上采集数据并测量抗压强度真值;然后采用卷积平滑(SG)方法进行光谱预处理;使用采样误差分布分析(SEPA)作为变量空间迭代收缩算法(VISSA)的改进策略进行特征波长优选;最后通过粒子群优化算法(PSO)优化核函数参数并建立相关向量机(RVM)的预测模型。试验表明:在特征波长优选方面,以偏最小二乘法(PLS)建模为基础的SEPA-VISSA方法,其预测决定系数为0.9593,预测均方根误差为2.8995,相对分析误差为3.0256,光谱变量数由512减小到111个,占总波长的22%,均优于VCPA、CARS和VISSA算法;在建模预测方面,以SEPA-VISSA所选波长为基础的RVM模型,PSO优化的拉普拉斯(Laplacian)核函数的核宽度为10.4043,决定系数为0.9449,预测均方根误差为2.0432,相对分析误差为4.2936,预测效果优于PLS和SVR。因此,基于近红外光谱的SEPA-VISSA-RVM建模能够实现对桦木顺纹抗压强度更准确和稳定的无损检测。     

鲜切新高梨褐变相关酶活性研究

测定了鲜切新高梨贮藏中的褐变度及多酚氧化酶（PPO）、过氧化物酶（POD）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）的活性变化,为控制鲜切新高梨贮藏期间的质量变化提供依据。结果显示,鲜切新高梨贮藏中褐变度不断增加,PPO活性在前7d急剧增加而后缓慢增加,POD活性在贮藏期逐渐增加,POD在整个贮藏过程中活性很高且变化很大,SOD活性在前4d逐渐增加而后下降。新高梨PPO、POD和SOD对褐变影响程度依次是PPO〉POD〉SOD。说明PPO、POD和SOD三者共同作用影响新高梨的酶促褐变。     

Evaluation of the sap flow using heat pulse method to determine transpiration of the Populus euphratica canopy

The sap flow of the sampled Populus euphratica stems at different radial depths and directions had been studied in Ejina Oasis, in the lower reaches of the Heihe River. Based on sap flow measurements, the transpiration of the entire canopy was calculated. Results showed a linear correlation between the sap flow and the sapwood area of the P. euphratica. Through the analysis of the diameter at breast height in the sample plot, it was found that the distribution of the diameters and the corresponding sapwood area was exponentially correlated, with the coefficient of correlation being 0.976,7. The calculated transpiration of the Populus euphratica canopy was 214.9 mm based on the specific conductivity method. Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2006, 42(7): 28–32 [译自: 林业科学]     

Aerial photo-interpretation using Z/I DMC images for estimation of forest variables

Abstract

Interpretation and tree height measurements in aerial photographs using photogrammetric workstations are frequently performed in standwise forest inventory. Images acquired by digital aerial cameras are now replacing the traditional film-based aerial photographs. In this study, digital images from the airborne Z/I DMC system for standwise estimation of stem volume, tree height and tree species composition were investigated at a 1200 ha forest area located in southern Sweden (58°30′N, 13°40′E). The 56 selected stands were dominated by Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) with stem volume in the range of 30–630 m³ ha^?1 (average 300 m³ ha^?1) and tree height in the range of 6–28 m (average 20 m). The large-format pansharpened colour infrared images were captured at a flight altitude of 4800 m above ground level corresponding to a pixel size of 0.48 m. The photo-interpretation was conducted by four professional interpreters, independently. In particular, two different base-to-height ratios (i.e. the ratio between the ground distance between image centres at the time of exposure and the flight altitude above ground level) of 0.26 and 0.39 were evaluated, but no significant difference in the estimation accuracy for stem volume and tree height was found. The accuracy for stem volume estimation in terms of relative root mean square error, corrected for systematic errors, was on average 24% (in the range of 17–39%). The corresponding accuracy for tree height estimation was on average 1.4 m (in the range of 0.9–1.6 m). The tree species composition accuracy assessment using a fuzzy set evaluation procedure showed that 95% of the stands were correctly classified. The estimation accuracies are in agreement with previous results using conventional film-based aerial panchromatic photographs.     

Effect of cluster configuration and auxiliary variables on the efficiency of local pivotal method for national forest inventory

ABSTRACT

Planning a forest inventory comprises making decisions related to the sampling strategy: cluster configuration, sample size and sample allocation within the survey area. Cluster configuration includes deciding on the number of sample plots within the cluster and distances between them. Available resources set the limit for field work in terms of man-days. If the time consumption for measurements is known, the sample size can be determined under the constraint. In this study, we simulated the second phase of inventory sampling with fixed time resources by replicating sample selection with a spatially balanced sampling utilizing local pivotal method (LPM) for different cluster configurations to find the most efficient. As a result, the temporary cluster configuration was changed from 9 to 5-sample plot configuration in a pilot inventory. Further, the sample selection was performed with LPM having total growing stock volume and broadleaf volume proportion as auxiliary information. The pilot results were aligned with the time series in respect to forest area and total growing stock volume, but in tree species groups deviations were observed in growing stock volume. A more comprehensive optimization should include the travelling routes, the plot-to-plot distances and the plot design. In any case, the result is region specific.     

Evaluating the durability of wood-based panels using internal bond strength results from accelerated aging treatments

In this study, the durability of wood-based panels was evaluated by comparing the internal bond (IB) strength retention after five different laboratory-based accelerated aging tests with the IB retention after 5 years of outdoor exposure in Shizuoka City. In each accelerated aging test, the IB retention of MDI-bonded panels showed high retention compared to other panels. Outdoor exposure in Shizuoka City resulted in an IB retention value for particleboard (PF) and oriented strandboard (aspen) of less than 10% after the 5-year exposure period. Medium-density fiberboards maintained their initial IB strength over the same period. Calculation of the mean IB retention for all board types allowed comparison of the severity of aging between the accelerated test methods and outdoor exposure. The ASTM six-cycle test method was the most severe among the standard treatment cycles applied.     

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.     

Effective sampling method for estimating bending strength distribution of Japanese larch square-sawn timber

Information on the strength distribution of timbers and other wood products seems to have become more important for users and producers after revision of the Japan architectural standard in 1998, which emphasizes the performance requirements of structures. Because there is no way other than expensive destructive tests to collect strength data, many researchers have proposed many inspecting methods for predicting strength by nondestructive evaluation. The most popular method for structural timber is the mechanical grading method based on the relation between Young's modulus (E) and strength () with some linear regression models. On the other hand, it is well known that the proof loading test is superior for obtaining information on the lower tail of distribution. If the E distribution of the objective timbers is known approximately, selecting timbers nearest to the projected E values saves timbers for destructive tests. We examined the alternative sampling method using the reported e- data sets of Japanese larch square-sawn timber. The simulated results showed that the estimated lower tail of the bending strength distribution by the alternative method was a better approximation of the experimental distribution than that derived from the conventional linear regression model.Part of this paper was presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kochi, April 1997