Effect of moisture content of members on mechanical properties of timber joints

To investigate the effect of moisture content (MC) of members on the mechanical properties of timber joints, bending tests of precut joints and shear tests of dowel-type joints were carried out using timbers of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) with three moisture conditions: green, kiln-dried with a MC target of 15%, and over-kiln-dried with a MC target of 5%. For the bending test, timbers were processed with a precut processing machine into “koshikake-ari” (a kind of dovetail joint) and “koshikake-kama” (a kind of mortise and tenon joint). A pair of members was jointed together without mechanical fasteners. Bolts (diameter = 12 mm) and nails (diameter = 2.45 mm) were used as dowels in the shear test. Bolted joints were constructed with one bolt and two metal side plates. Two nails and two metal side plates were used for the nailed joint. For precut joints, no clear effect of MC was recognized on maximum moment and initial stiffness. The maximum strength of mechanical joints assembled with kiln-dried wood was changed by the degree of drying. Stiffness of the joints assembled with kiln-dried specimens was larger than that of the joints assembled with green specimens.Part of this study was presented at the 7th International IUFRO Wood Drying Conference, Tsukuba, July 2001     

Bending creep behavior of hot-pressed wood under cyclic moisture change conditions

This study examined the bending creep behavior of hot-pressed wood during cyclic moisture changes. Sugi (Cryptomerica japonica D. Don) specimens were pressed in the radial direction under six combinations of nominal compressive strain (33% and 50%) and press temperatures (140°C, 170°C, 200°C). Creep tests were conducted at 20°C with three cyclic relative humidity changes between 65% and 95% under 25% of short-breaking stress. The effect of moisture content (MC) change on elastic compliance and mechanosorptive (MS) compliance was investigated. The relation between MS compliance and thickness swelling was studied. The results indicated that total compliance increased over the history of cyclic moisture changes; and its behavior was closely related to the changes in MC and thickness swelling. The total compliance increased during adsorption and decreased during desorption. Elastic compliance increased linearly with MC and was dependent on press temperature and compression. With increasing MC change, MS compliance increased during adsorption and decreased during desorption. The first adsorption led to greater MS compliance than did the subsequent adsorption with the same amount of MC change. In general, the elastic parameterK _E and the MS parameterK _Mincreased with compression and decreased as the press temperature increased. The MS parameterK _M was apparently greater than the elastic parameterK _E. The MS parameterK _M increased with swelling coefficient K_SW of the hot-pressed specimen during adsorption and decreased with an increasing shrinkage coefficientK _SH during desorption.     

Theoretical and experimental deflections of glued laminated timber beams made from a tropical hardwood

Abstract

Nondestructive testing (NDT) can play an important role in improving the quality and reliability of tropical hardwood as an engineering material. By means of these methods, the stiffness of the material can be determined and the information used to improve its structural performance. Although, it is a usual approach for qualifying the material used to manufacture engineered wood products made mainly from softwoods, it is not so common for tropical hardwoods. Additionally, the lack of information regarding properties of glulam beam made from these kinds of wood is evident. In this context, the paper aimed at evaluating the theoretical and experimental deflection of glulam beams made from the Brazilian hardwood louro-vermelho (Sextonia rubra). Initially, the stiffness of each lamina was determined nondestructively using transverse vibration method (E _dtv), which has been demonstrated to be the most suitable method for this wood species. Then, ten 5-lamina glulam beams were assembled according to descending lamina E _dtv values. The experimental evaluation was performed using a four-point bending schedule. In general, the theoretical values of deflection were 2% higher than the experimental ones. The transverse vibration showed to be a suitable method to both measure lamina stiffness and predict glulam beam deflection.     

Time-variant reliability of timber beams according to Eurocodes considering long-term deflections

ABSTRACT

In order to achieve a consistent level of failure probability, structural design codes are optimized using probabilistic methods. This optimization process traditionally focuses on the ultimate limit states (ULS). However, in the design of timber structures the performance of the structural members is often governed by the serviceability limit state (SLS) associated with different load levels than applied in the ULS. The probability of serviceability failure is strongly dependent on the loading sequence and the time-dependent response of timber; therefore, a time-variant probabilistic model is recommended to estimate them properly. This study aims to investigate the time-dependent reliability for long-term deflections of timber office and residential floor beams according to the specifications of the Eurocodes. A simple creep model is used to calculate the deflections and Monte Carlo simulation is carried out to determine the reliability index. It was found that the creep factor and the suggested deflection limits given in Eurocode 5 might not be appropriate to achieve the expected target reliabilities. To obtain a more consistent reliability, more suitable values for the mentioned parameters were suggested. However, the primary aim was to present a framework to determine appropriate deflection limits for structural codes.     

Modelling the long-term strength of timber columns

Summary This paper studies the influence of the used creep function, and the duration of the experimental sustained loading from which the creep function was derived, in modelling the long-term buckling strength of timber columns. The sensitivity of this buckling strength to creep and initial deflection is numerically studied using an energy approach that takes into account the initial deflection. Various creep functions — power laws as well as exponential laws — derived from bending experiments of different durations are used for the numerical simulation. The crucial need for experimental results issued from very long load period experiments is identified. Such experiments may lead to a more credible creep analysis of timber structures.Symbols i radius of giration - s stress level - E_L effective MOE - E₀ instantaneous MOE - I inertia moment - K,K geometrical matrices - L length of beam or column - L_f effective length - N_cr axial force, buckling load - U elastic strain energy - W external forces work - t time variable - u moisture content (m.c.) - v total deflection - v_c, v_e, v₀ creep, instantaneous elastic and initial deflections respectively Greek Letters (t) time function - , _e, ₀ total, instantaneous and initial strains respectively - twist rotation - (t) creep coefficient or fractional creep or relative creep - (x) shape function - load factor - longitudinal shortening - total potential energy - creep factor - relaxation time     

Moisture content adjustments for dynamic modulus of elasticity of wood members

The influence of moisture content (MC) on the dynamic modulus of elasticity of structural lumber was investigated using transverse vibration testing methods. The flexural rigidity (EI) of a transversely vibrating beam was calculated as the modulus of elasticity (E) multiplied by the moment of inertia (I). The increase in E of lumber due to reduction in moisture content was computed by assuming that the flexural rigidity remains constant with changes in moisture content. Reductions in I due to shrinkage were compensated by the increases in E which led to a proposal for a species-dependent MC adjustment model for modulus of elasticity. The model was validated using 38 mm × 89 mm × 4,290 mm western Canadian Spruce–Pine–Fir dimension lumber evaluated in the “as-received” and “dry” conditions. Results obtained from the species-dependent model agreed closely with those from the E adjustment equation for dimension lumber given in ASTM D 1990. The results show that the ASTM moisture adjustment procedures can be used to adjust dynamic E values for changes in moisture content also.     

Analysis of creep of wood during water adsorption based on the excitation response theory

The creep behavior of wood during water adsorption was mathematically analyzed based on the excitation response theory. The creep change _u (t), obtained by subtracting an instantaneous complianceJ _u (0) from a creep complianceJ _u (t), was linear in terms of moisture content at a steady state of moisture and was separable into two functions of time and moisture content. The creep compliance, however, was nonlinear. The creep change during water adsorption was obtained by applying the excitation-response theory to the creep change in a steady state of moisture. The equation was formally equal to the results reported so far. By using the derived equations, it was theoretically proved that the change in creep compliance during water adsorption from moisture contentu ₀ tou ₁ is always greater than the difference between creep compliance atu ₀ and that at u, in the steady state.     

A rheological model for mechano-sorptive deflections of beams

Summary Most of the increase in deflection with time that occurs during the drying of initially green beams under load is known to be due more to the change in moisture content (a mechanosorptive phenomenon) than to the passage of time. A first approximation rheological model for this deflection is presented. The validity of the model was assessed by tests on small messmate stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua) beams. It was found that during the initial drying about 85% of the total deformation was attributable to the proposed first approximation rheological model.The rheological terminology used in this paper (see Fig. 6) was agreed on by scientists of the Division of Forest Products, CSIRO, working in the area of wood rheology.     

Cantilever experimental setup for rheological parameter identification in relation to wood drying

Wood exhibits a pronounced time dependent deformation behavior which is usually split into ‘viscoelastic’ creep at constant moisture content (MC) and ‘mechano-sorptive’ creep in varying MC conditions. Experimental determination of model rheological parameters on a material level remains a serious challenge, and diversity of experimental methods makes published results difficult to compare. In this study, a cantilever experimental setup is proposed for creep tests because of its close analogy with the mechanical behavior of wood during drying. Creep measurements were conducted at different load levels (LL) under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. Radial specimens of white spruce wood [Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss.] with dimensions of 110 mm in length (R), 25 mm in width (T), and 7 mm in thickness (L) were used. The influence of LL and MC on creep behavior of wood was exhibited. In constant MC conditions, no significant difference was observed between creep of tensile and compressive faces of wood cantilever. For load not greater than 50% of the ultimate load, the material exhibited a linear viscoelastic creep behavior at the three equilibrium moisture contents considered in the study. The mechano-sorptive creep after the first sorption phase was several times greater than creep at constant moisture conditions. Experimental data were fitted with numerical simulation of the global rheological model developed by authors for rheological parameter identification.     

Derivation and application of an equation for calculating shear modulus of three-ply laminated material beam from shear moduli of individual laminae

In a detailed study of the relation between the deflection caused by shear force and the constitution of a laminated material beam, we derived an equation for calculating the shear modulus of a laminated material beam from the shear moduli of individual laminae. The validity of the derived equation was investigated using crosslaminated wood beams made with five species. The calculated shear moduli parallel to the grain of face laminae ranged from 48.3 MPa to 351 MPa, while those perpendicular to the grain of face laminae ranged from 58.0 MPa to 350 MPa. The calculated shear moduli increased markedly with increasing shear modulus in a cross section of perpendicular-direction lamina of a cross-laminated wood beam. The calculated apparent modulus of elasticity (MOE) of cross-laminated wood beams agreed fairly well with the measured apparent MOE values. This fact indicated that the apparent MOE of cross-laminated wood beam was able to be calculated from the true MOE values and shear moduli of individual laminae. The percentage of deflection caused by shear force obtained from the calculated apparent MOE (Y _sc) was close to that obtained from the measured apparent MOE (Y _s) and there was a high correlation between both values. From the above results, it was concluded that the derived equation had high validity in calculation of shear modulus of a cross-laminated wood beam.     

Young’s modulus obtained by flexural vibration test of a wooden beam with inhomogeneity of density

The object of this study was to investigate the inhomogeneity of density within a beam from a relationship between the dynamic Young’s moduli from the Euler-Bernoulli elementary theory of bending (E _n) and resonance mode numbers (n), which is plotted as the “E-n” diagram in this article. Rectangular beams with dimensions of 300 (L) × 25 (R) × 5mm (T) of Sakhalin spruce (Picea glehnii Mast.), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr.), Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Zieb. et Zucc.) and white oak (Cyclobalanopsis myrsinaefolia Oerst.) were used for specimens. Small parts of beams were replaced with a small portion of another species to examine the influence of the inhomogeneity of density on E _n. A free-free flexural vibration test was undertaken and E _n was calculated by the Euler-Bernoulli theory. The resonance frequency of a specimen with inhomogeneity of density was simulated by modal analysis. The density distribution in the longitudinal direction of the specimen for which E _n did not decrease monotonically with n was obtained. From the modal analysis, the inhomogeneity of density was equivalent to a concentrated mass attached to a uniform beam. The pattern of the E-n diagram was changed by replacing a part of the specimen with another species. Specimens for which E _n did not decrease monotonically with n had a high density part because of indented rings, knots, or resin.     

Bending creep behavior of wood under cyclic moisture changes

This study examined the bending creep behavior in the longitudinal direction of six species under cyclic moisture content (MC) changes. For each species, tests were made at 20°C with five cyclic relative humidity changes between 65% and 95%, beginning from moisture adsorption. A load corresponding to 25% of short-term breaking load of the species was applied to the radial section of each specimen with four-point bending. The effect of MC change on instantaneous compliance was also investigated under the same condition. The quantitative relation between mechano-sorptive (MS) compliance and MC change was examined, and the material parameter KM for the relation in specific sorption was determined. Results indicated that the total compliance in the six species with different behavior increases with sorption time. As an integral part of total compliance, instantaneous compliance changes linearly with MC and influences to a greater or lesser extent the total compliance behavior. In general, with increasing MC change, the MS compliance linearly increases during the first adsorption and all desorption and decreases slightly during subsequent adsorption. The material parameterK _M varies markedly not only with species but also with specific sorption. The first adsorption causes the largest deformation, followed by desorption.This paper was presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society in Shizuoka, Japan. April 1998     

Variation of the dynamic elastic modulus and wave velocity in the fibre direction with other properties during the drying of Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell

Dynamic elastic modulus (E_L) and wave velocity (V) were determined using resonance vibrations from initially green, 100 × 50 mm sample boards of Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell., and after several stages of drying to oven dry. E_L and V were determined from impact induced vibrations and spectral analysis. E_L and V from green wood were positively related to basic density and normal shrinkage, only V was negatively related to green density, and both E_L and V were negatively related to green moisture content and the number of internal checks after drying. The latter relationship has the potential to provide a simple method of segregating highly check prone material. No significant relationships were obtained with collapse. Outside the hygroscopic range, in low shrinkage material, E_L increased little or gradually, while in high shrinkage, collapse prone material, it increased more rapidly, but no clear breakpoint was evident. In the hygroscopic range, E_L increased rapidly in all samples. V increased curvilinearly throughout the entire moisture range, but no difference between collapse prone and non-collapse prone material was observed. Received 16 February 1998     

The behaviour of particle board and hardboard beams during moisture cycling

Summary The effects of creep at constant conditions of moisture content and the effects of deformations occurring during cycling of moisture content have been studied in loaded beams of particleboard and hardboard. The variations in stiffness in loaded and unloaded beams of particleboard during moisture cycling were also determined. Contrary to the findings of some workers but in agreement with the findings of another, the increases in the deflections of loaded beams of particleboard during cycling of moisture content were due mainly to desorption of moisture. Qualitatively similar behaviour was found for particleboard, hardboard and wood but quantitatively the effects were greatest in particleboard and hardboard. It appears that the basic mechanism of the transient effects in bending, arising with the simultaneous action of load and change in moisture content, may be similar in wood, particleboard and hardboard.     

Mechanical properties assessment of Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation wood with three acoustic-based nondestructive methods

The objectives of this study were to establish the method of evaluating wood mechanical properties by acoustic nondestructive testing at standing trees and at logs of a Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) plantation, and to compare three acoustic nondestructive methods for evaluating the static bending modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and compressive strength parallel-to-grain (σ_c) of plantation wood as well. Fifteen Chinese fir plantation trees at 36 years of age were selected. Each tree was cut into four logs, for which three values of dynamic modulus of elasticity, i.e., E _sw, of the north and south face based on stress waves to assume the measuring state of the standing tree, E _fr, longitudinal vibration, and E _us, ultrasonic wave, were measured in the green condition. After log measurements, small specimens were cut and air-dried to 12% moisture content (MC). Static bending tests were then performed to determine the bending MOE and MOR, and compressive tests parallel-to-grain were made to determine σ_c. The bending MOE of small clear specimens was about 7.1% and 15.4% less than E _sw and E _us, respectively, and 11.3% greater than E _fr. The differences between the bending MOE and dynamic MOE of logs as determined by the three acoustic methods were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Good correlation (R = 0.77, 0.57, and 0.45) between E _sw, E _fr, and E _us and static MOE, respectively, were obtained (P < 0.001). It can be concluded that longitudinal vibration may be the most precise and reliable technique to evaluate the mechanical properties of logs among these three acoustic nondestructive methods. Moreover, the results indicate that stress wave technology would be effective to evaluate wood mechanical properties both from logs and from the standing tree.     

山毛榉热处理材的介电式含水率仪读数校正实验

采用介电式含水率仪对山毛榉常规干燥材及热处理材的含水率进行了测量,并与烘干法测量结果进行了对比分析,采用最小二乘法,分别拟合出了180℃、195℃和210℃山毛榉热处理材的校正曲线。180℃、195℃和210℃山毛榉热处理材的介电式含水率仪校正曲线分别为, y＝1.2923 x＋0.2783, y＝1.3920 x＋0.7473, y＝1.6445 x＋1.4892。结果表明,常规干燥材的电测法结果能很好地反映其实际含水率水平,而热处理材的电测法结果则普遍大于烘干法,3种热处理材均呈现出随含水率的增高,差值随之增大的趋势,且随着处理温度的升高,差值愈大。     

Effects of high temperature kiln drying on the practical performances of Japanese cedar wood (Cryptomeria japonica) I: changes in hygroscopicity due to heating

The effect of heating on the hygroscopicity of Japanese cedar wood was investigated as a simple evaluation of thermal degradation in large-dimension timber being kiln-dried at high temperatures (>100°C). Small wood pieces were heated at 120°C in the absence of moisture (dry heating) and steamed at 60°, 90°, and 120°C with saturated water vapor over 2 weeks, and their equilibrium moisture contents (M) at 20°C and 60% relative humidity (RH) were compared with those of unheated samples. No significant change was induced by steaming at 60°C, while heating above 90°C caused loss in weight (WL) and reduction in M of wood. The effects of steaming were greater than those of dry heating at the same heating temperature. After extraction in water, the steamed wood showed additional WL and slight increase in M because of the loss of water-soluble decomposition residue. The M of heated wood decreased with increasing WL, and such a correlation became clearer after the extraction in water. On the basis of experimental correlation, the WL of local parts in large-dimension kiln-dried timber was evaluated from their M values. The results indicated that the thermal degradation of inner parts was greater than that of outer parts.     

Properties of the cell wall constituents in relation to the longitudinal elasticity of wood

This study examined the origin of the moisture dependency of the longitudinal Youngs modulus of wood (E _L ) in relation to the microfibril angle (MFA) of the S2 layer of the secondary wall. Microtomed early wood specimen of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D.Don) were used for the experiment. The following was revealed:

Effects of moisture content and specific gravity on static bending properties and hardness of six wood species

This study was designed to investigate the effects of moisture content (MC) and specific gravity (SG) on the bending strength and hardness of six wood species including Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don), China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), red meranti (Shorea spp.), Selangan batu (Shorea spp.), and red oak (Quercus spp.). The experimental results are summarized as follows: Effects of MC and SG on the strength (MOR), stiffness (MOE), and hardness (H _B) could be represented by a multiregression formulas. A negative correlation existed between these properties and MC, whereas a postive correlation showed between them and the SG. The changing rate of these properties induced by 1% MC changes varied with the wood species: 2.6% change in MOR was observed in Japanese cedar, China fir, western hemlock, red meranti, and Selangan batu; and 3.9% was found in red oak. For MOE, a 0.58% change was observed in Japanese cedar, China fir, and red meranti; western hemlock and Selangan batu exhibited 1.2% and red oak 2.5%. For hardness, a 1.1% change was observed in Japanese cedar, western hemlock, and red oak; red meranti and China fir exhibited 3.3%; and Selangan batu 1.8%.A part of this report was presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society in Shizuoka, Japan, April 3-5, 1998     

The effect of shear and poisson's ratio in the static bending of wood beams

Summary New displacement equations for the static bending of six common types of simple, finite anisotropic or orthotropic beams are presented. The effect of shear and Poisson's ratios in the determination of Young's modulus by static bending is discussed.Notations S _ij Elastic compliances - K _i Real function of the elastic compliances - F=F(x, y) Stress function - _ij Stress - l Length of the beam - h Half thickness of the beam - b Width of the beam - q, w Loads - (x, y) Cartesian coordinates - u Longitudinal displacement - v Vertical displacement - E ₁₁ Young's modulus along the grain (in the beam axis) - E ₂₂ Young's modulus across the grain - G ₁₂ Shear modulus in the 1...2 references - v ₁₂ Poisson's ratio in the 1...2 references - ₁₁ Strain along the beam axis The investigation reported in this paper (No. 71-8-91) is in connection with a project of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with the approval of the Director. Funds for this research were made available under the provision of the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The author is indebted to this agency and the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station for their support in this project.