Evaluation of quality indexes of bending performance and hardness for hardwoods

The mechanical properties of 613 small clear specimens of 35 species (11 ring-porous hardwoods, 19 diffuse-porous hardwoods, and 5 softwoods) were evaluated. The aim of the study was to examine indexes of wood quality that are easy to measure and that exhibit a high correlation with bending performance and hardness that are essential properties of hardwood products. The modulus of rigidity, dynamic modulus of elasticity, bending properties (modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, stress at the proportional limit, absorbed energy, Tetmajer’s modulus), dynamic energy absorption by an impact bending test, compressive strength parallel to the grain, shear strength, partial bearing strength, and Brinell’s hardness were measured. A high correlation was found between dynamic modulus of elasticity and static modulus of elasticity. Bending stress at the proportional limit was found to be approximately equivalent to the compressive strength parallel to the grain. Static energy absorption correlated with dynamic energy absorption. Tetmajer’s modulus was found to be closely related to the ratio of the initial stiffness within the elastic range to the secant modulus at the maximum load. A high correlation was observed between Brinell’s hardness and partial bearing strength. The difference in the regression coefficients obtained for these correlations between the species groups was small. Part of this study was presented at the All Division 5 Conference of IUFRO, Taipei, October 2007     

Bending creep of glued laminated timber (glulam) using sugi (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis>) laminae with extremely low Young’s modulus for the inner layers

The main purpose of this study was to establish whether sugi lumber with an extremely low Young’s modulus, which is plentifully produced in southern Japan, can be practically used as laminae for glued laminated timber (glulam) from the viewpoint of long-term performance under loading. Bending creep tests were carried out on sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) glulam with extremely low Young’s modulus laminae (3–4 kN/mm²) for the inner layers, as were tests on hybrid glulam with Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco) laminae (14–15 kN/mm²) for the outermost layer and sugi laminae (including those with a Young’s modulus of 3–4 kN/mm²) for the inner layers. The specimens were eight glulam beams with different compositions that were 105 mm wide, 210 mm deep, and 3980 mm long. The term of the creep test was 4 years. The results are summarized as follows. First, there were no significant differences between the Young’s modulus or bending creep of glulam L30 (laminae with Young’s modulus of 3–4 kN/mm²) and that of glulam L50 (laminae with Young’s modulus of 5–6 kN/mm²) for the inner layers. Second, for asymmetric compositions, the behavior of increases and decreases of relative creep due to atmospheric changes showed opposite behavior for glulam loaded from the side of lower Young’s modulus and from the side of higher Young’s modulus. Third, the required experimental term for the creep test to estimate an accurate long-term curve is 1 or 2 years (with data for the first 6 months excluded) when the power law is used for the estimation. Fourth, the values of relative creep in 50 years obtained from the experimental term were much lower than 2, which is the standard value set by Notification No. 1459 of the Ministry of Construction in Japan, and these values were not affected by the composition of the laminae.     

Determining Young’s modulus of timber on the basis of a strength database and stress wave propagation velocity I: an estimation method for Young’s modulus employing Monte Carlo simulation

In this article, we report on an estimation method for Young’s modulus that entails measuring only the stress wave propagation velocity of timber built into structures such as wooden buildings. Methods of estimating Young’s modulus that use the stress wave propagation velocity and characteristic frequency of timber in conjunction with timber density have long been used. In this article, we propose a method of easily and accurately estimating Young’s modulus from the stress wave propagation velocity without knowing the timber density. This method is based on a database of wood strength performance and density accumulated from a variety of research data and the method estimates Young’s modulus by a simulation method. We compared the Young’s moduli estimated by this method with those obtained by the bending test and by the measurement of the stress wave propagation velocity and density, and found similar results. This coincidence suggests that the method of estimating Young’s modulus presented in this article is valid. For example, the method is effective for convenient evaluation on site when determining whether a wooden building’s structural components should be reused or replaced when repairing or remodeling a building.     

Effect of shear deflection on vibrational properties of compressed wood

In this paper, we have investigated vibrational properties of compressed Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don). The test specimens were compressed in the radial direction at 180°C for 5 h. Compression ratios (the ratio of deformation to the initial thickness) were 33% and 67%, and the vibrational properties were measured by free-free flexural vibration test. The contribution of shear deflection was large when the length-to-depth ratio was small and the Youngs modulus to shear modulus ratio was large. The Youngs to shear modulus ratio increased as the compression ratio increased and was larger under vibration in the radial than in the tangential direction. The loss tangent increased when the contribution of shear deflection to total measured flexural deflection increased.     

Radial variations of wood properties of an endangered species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus armandii</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">amamiana</Emphasis>

A dead tree of Pinus armandii Franch. var. amamiana (Koidz.) Hatusima (abbreviated to PAAm) was obtained from a natural habitat on Tanega-shima Island and various properties of its wood were investigated. Grain angle was measured and soft X-ray analysis was undertaken to obtain the density in each annual ring. Unit shrinkage and dynamic properties were measured by shrinkage, bending, and compression tests. Variations of wood properties in the radial direction, relationships of wood properties to density, and annual ring width were examined. Roughly speaking, variations in the radial direction of the grain angle, twist angle by drying, Young’s modulus and strength in static bending, absorbed energy in impact bending, compressive Young’s modulus, compressive strength, and compressive proportional limit corresponded to the variation of annual ring width. As a result, it was determined that if PAAm is afforested artificially for the purposes of lumber production and conservation, the annual rings of logs should not be too widely spaced. Wood properties of PAAm were similar to those of Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii Parl.), which is another representative pine on Tanegashima Island. This study was presented in part at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Hiroshima, August 2007     

Determination of Young’s and shear moduli of common yew and Norway spruce by means of ultrasonic waves

Despite the exceptional position of yew among the gymnosperms concerning its elastomechanical properties, no reference values for its elastic constants apart from the longitudinal Young’s modulus have been available from literature so far. Hence, this study’s objective was to determine the Young’s moduli E _L, E _R and E _T and the shear moduli G _LR, G _LT and G _RT of yew wood. For that purpose, we measured the ultrasound velocities of longitudinal and transversal waves applied to small cubic specimens and derived the elastic constants from the results. The tests were carried out at varying wood moisture contents and were applied to spruce specimens as well in order to put the results into perspective. Results indicate that E _L is in the same order of magnitude for both species, which means that a high-density wood species like yew does not inevitably have to have a high longitudinal Young’s modulus. For the transverse Young’s moduli of yew, however, we obtained 1.5–2 times, for the shear moduli even 3–6 times higher values compared to spruce. The variation of moisture content primarily revealed differences between both species concerning the shear modulus of the RT plane. We concluded that anatomical features such as the microfibril angle, the high ray percentage and presumably the large amount of extractives must fulfil important functions for the extraordinary elastomechanical behaviour of yew wood which still has to be investigated in subsequent micromechanical studies.     

Mechanical characterization of juvenile European aspen (Populus tremula) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × Populus tremuloides) using full-field strain measurements

Functional analysis of genes and proteins involved in wood formation and fiber properties often involves phenotyping saplings of transgenic trees. The objective of the present study was to develop a tensile test method for small green samples from saplings, and to compare mechanical properties of juvenile European aspen (Populus tremula) and hybrid aspen (Populus tremula × tremuloides). Small microtomed sections were manufactured and successfully tested in tension parallel to fiber orientation. Strain was determined by digital speckle photography. Results showed significantly lower values for juvenile hybrid aspen in both Young’s modulus and tensile strength parallel to the grain. Average Young’s moduli spanned the ranges of 5.9–6.6 and 4.8–6.0 GPa for European aspen and hybrid aspen, respectively. Tensile strength was in the range of 45–49 MPa for European aspen and 32–45 MPa for hybrid aspen. The average density (oven-dry) was 284 kg/m³ for European aspen and 221 kg/m³ for hybrid aspen. Differences in mechanical properties correlated with differences in density. Part of this article was presented at the 3rd International Symposium on Wood Machining, May 21–23, 2007, Lausanne, Switzerland     

Determining Young’s modulus of timber on the basis of a strength database and stress wave propagation velocity II: effect of the reference distribution database on the determination

A method of determining the Young’s modulus of timber using the stress wave propagation velocity without knowing the timber density was developed in our previous study. This method enables the estimation of Young’s modulus by Monte Carlo simulation using an existing database of the Young’s modulus versus density relationship as reference. Here, in Part II, we consider the effect of the reference distribution database on the accuracy of the estimated Young’s modulus by the developed method. Twelve different reference distribution databases were used in this study, containing Young’s modulus versus density data for more than 13 000 real-size timber specimens of ten different species. We obtained the following results: (1) the distribution of Young’s modulus estimated using an arbitrary stress wave propagation velocity depends on the reference distribution database employed, (2) the most important factor is not that the reference database has data on the same species as the timber in the test, but rather that the reference distribution database covers the foreseeable range of timber densities within the test, and (3) the estimation accuracy is higher than about 80% when the database covers many species and has wide ranges of densities and Young’s moduli. This estimation method was developed in order to measure the Young’s modulus of timber whose density cannot be measured. Considering that the quality of lumber has a large variation, such estimation accuracy will be useful for practical applications.     

Characterization of the morphological,physical, and mechanical properties of seven nonwood plant fiber bundles

The morphological, physical, and mechanical properties of the nonwood plant fiber bundles of ramie, pineapple, sansevieria, kenaf, abaca, sisal, and coconut fiber bundles were investigated. All fibers except those of coconut fiber had noncircular cross-sectional shapes. The crosssectional area of the fiber bundles was evaluated by an improved method using scanning electron microscope images. The coefficient factor defined as the ratio of the cross-sectional area determined by diameter measurement, to the cross-sectional area determined by image analysis was between 0.92 and 0.96 for all fibers. This indicated that the area determined by diameter measurement was available. The densities of the fiber bundles decreased with increasing diameters. The diameters of each fiber species had small variation of around 3.4%-9.8% within a specimen. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of ramie, pineapple, and sansevieria fiber bundles showed excellent values in comparison with the other fibers. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus showed a decreasing trend with increasing diameter of fiber bundles.     

Measurement of bending properties of wood by compression bending tests

We measured Young's modulus, proportional limit stress, and bending strength by the compression bending test and examined the applicability of the testing method by comparing it with conventional bending test methods. Long columns of todomatsu (Japanese fir,Abies sachalinensis Fr. Schmidt) with various length/thickness ratios were the specimens. A compressive load was axially applied to the specimen supported with pin ends. Young's modulus, the proportional limit stress, and the bending strength were obtained from the load-loading point displacement and load-strains at the outer surfaces until the occurrence of bending failure. Four-point bending tests were also conducted, and the bending properties obtained were compared with the corresponding properties obtained by the compression bending tests. Based on the experimental results, we believe that when the stress-strain relation is measured by the load-loading point displacement relation using specimens whose length/thickness ratio is large enough, the bending properties can be obtained properly using the compression bending test.     

Origin of the characteristic hygro-mechanical properties of the gelatinous layer in tension wood from Kunugi oak (Quercus acutissima)

The mechanism responsible for unusual hygro-mechanical properties of tension wood containing the gelatinous layer (G-layer) was investigated. Tension and normal wood specimens were sampled from the leaning stems of a 75- and a 40-year-old Kunugi oak (Quercus acutissima) tree, and the moisture dependencies of the longitudinal Young’s modulus and longitudinal dimensions were measured. The results, which were analyzed in relation to the anatomical properties of the specimens, revealed that the ratio of increase in the longitudinal Young’s modulus with drying was higher in the G-layer than in the lignified layer (L-layer); the longitudinal drying shrinkage displayed a similar pattern. It was found that the lattice distance of the [200] plane in the cellulose crystallite increased with drying, moreover, the half-width of the [200] diffraction peak increased with drying, which was remarkable in the tension wood. Those results suggest that in the green state, the polysaccharide matrix in the G-layer behaves like a water-swollen gel; however, it is transformed into a condensed and hard-packed structure by strong surface tension during moisture desorption, which is a form of xero-gelation. However, in the L-layer, condensation and subsequent xero-gelation of the polysaccharide matrix was prevented by the hydrophobic lignin that mechanically reinforces the matrix.     

Three-dimensional elastic behaviour of common yew and Norway spruce

In view of its high density, yew wood has a remarkably low longitudinal Young’s modulus, which makes it unique among coniferous woods. However, the elastic response of yew related to other load directions is largely unknown. Therefore, our goal was to comprehensively characterise the three-dimensional elastic behaviour of yew wood. To achieve this, we performed tensile tests on dog-bone-shaped yew specimens and determined the three Young’s moduli and six Poisson’s ratios using a universal testing machine and a digital image correlation technique. All tests were also applied to spruce as reference species. After including the shear moduli determined in a prior study by our group, all elastic engineering parameters of yew and spruce were ascertained. Based on these values, the three-dimensional elastic behaviour was describable with deformation bodies and polar diagrams. Evaluating these illustrations revealed that yew had a lower stiffness only in the longitudinal direction. In all other three-dimensional directions, spruce was clearly more compliant than yew. Particularly, in the radial–tangential plane, both species varied largely in their degree of anisotropic elasticity. All mentioned differences between yew and spruce originate at the microstructural level.     

培育措施对人工林樟子松木材力学性质的影响

研究了不同培育措施(初植密度、间伐强度、坡向、坡位)对人工林樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica)木材的密度和力学性质(横纹抗弯强度、抗弯弹性模量、顺纹抗压强度、冲击韧性、端面硬度)的影响。初植密度(1.5m×1.0m,1.5m×2.0m和1.5m×2.5m)对木材密度和抗弯弹性模量有显著的影响。初植密度为1.5m×1.0m时,木材主要力学指标值最大。适当间伐可提高木材的抗弯弹性模量和顺纹抗压强度,但重度间伐则会降低木材的力学强度。坡向(阳坡和阴坡)对木材的抗弯弹性模量影响显著,阳坡高于阴坡。坡位(上坡位和下坡位)对除端面硬度外的木材力学性质指标影响都显著,各项力学指标值均是坡下高于坡上。表5参9。     

用高阶剪切理论研究竹木复合空心板的弯曲性能

运用高阶剪切理论对竹木复合空心板的弯曲性能进行分析与研究。结果表明 :在跨高比较小时 ,横向剪切效应对板的弯曲性能有显著影响 ;预测的变形与一阶剪切理论基本相当 ;预测的强度能够反映出横向剪切效应的影响 ,其影响只与载荷大小有关 ,而与跨高比无关 ;描述横截面上的应力分布与一阶剪切理论显著不同 ,尤其是剪应力 ,不仅在跨中截面上存在较大差异 ,而且还随截面的位置而变。     

Influence of loading point on the static bending test of wood

We conducted three-point bending tests by changing the condition at the loading point and then examined the influence of the loading point on the test data. Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipfera L.) was used for the tests. First, using loading noses with various radii, static bending tests were conducted by varying the depth/span ratios. Deflections were measured from the displacement of the cross head and at the point against the loading nose: Young's and shear moduli were obtained from the modified Timoshenko's bending equation proposed in a previous paper. Then a similar testing procedure was undertaken by inserting cushion sheets of Teflon between the specimen and the nose. After the measuring these moduli, bending strengths were measured using the loading noses and cushion sheets. The following results were obtained: (1) When the deflection was measured from the displacement of the cross head, the radius of the loading nose had an influence on the additional deflection when the depth/span ratio was high, causing the dependence of the shear modulus on the radius. In contrast, the radius had little influence on the measurement of Young's modulus. By placing cushion sheets between the nose and the specimen, the effect of the radius was moderated. When the deflection was measured at the point against the loading nose, the radius of the nose had little influence on the additional deflection; hence the loading nose had little influence when obtaining Young's and shear moduli. This tendency was commonly observed regardless of whether the cushion sheets were in place. (2) When the specimen had a high depth/span ratio, the bending strength increased with the increase in the radius of the loading nose. However, the influence of the radius was small when the specimen had a low depth/span ratio. There was no significant effect of the cushion sheets used here on the measurement of bending strength.Part of this paper was presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Shizuoka, April 1998     

Effects of semi-isostatic densification of wood on the variation in strength properties with density

The variation in strength properties with density was compared between semi-isostatically densified and non-densified wood. Strength properties were compared with published data from earlier studies using other methods for densification. Small clear specimens of eight species were analysed for compression strength in axial, radial and tangential direction, three-point bending and Brinell hardness. After densification, all tested strength properties increased with density, but especially strength perpendicular to grain became lower than expected from the density of non-densified wood. Strength of densified wood relative to what could be expected for non-densified wood of similar density was denoted as ‘strength potential index’. For axial compression strength and bending strength, strength potential index of individual wood species varied between 0.7 and 1.0, i.e. densified wood is slightly weaker than what could be expected from its density. Strength potential index was lower for properties much determined by strength perpendicular to grain. In radial direction, densified wood was rubbery with low modulus of elasticity and nearly no proportional limit or modulus of rupture. Generally, wood was apparently weakened in proportion to the degree of compression in respective direction. Strength potential index also increased with increasing original density of the species.     

Effects of high temperature kiln drying on the practical performances of Japanese cedar wood (Cryptomeria japonica) II: Changes in mechanical properties due to heating

Japanese cedar wood specimens were steamed at 80°, 100°, and 120°C over 14 days, and their equilibrium moisture content (M) at 20°C and 60% relative humidity, longitudinal dynamic Young’s modulus (E), bending strength (σ _max), and breaking strain (ε _max) were compared with those of unheated specimens. Steaming for a longer duration at a higher temperature resulted in a greater reduction in M, σ _max, and ε _max. The E of wood was slightly enhanced by steaming at 100°C for 1–4 days and 120°C for 1–2 days, and thereafter it decreased. The slight increase in the E of sapwood was attributable to the reduction in hygroscopicity, while sufficient explanation was not given for a greater increase in the heartwood stiffness. Irrespective of the steaming temperature, the correlations between M and the mechanical properties of steamed wood were expressed in terms of simple curves. M values above 8% indicated a slight reduction in E and s max, whereas M values below 8% indicated a marked decrease in the mechanical performances. In addition, the e max decreased almost linearly with a decrease in the value of M. These results suggest that hygroscopicity measurement enables the evaluation of degradation in the mechanical performances of wood caused by steaming at high temperatures.     

小径级竹材抗弯性能测试方法

探究小径级竹材（胸高直径50 mm以下）的抗弯性能实验方法，充分发掘小径级竹材的性能，为小径级竹材的材性研究和工业加工等提供技术支撑，以扩大小径级竹材的用途，提高其利用价值。实验以箬竹、早园竹、苦竹、水竹和笔竿竹5种小径级竹材为研究对象，利用三点弯曲法与四点弯曲法分别测定了不同长径比（试件长度与其直径之比）试样的抗弯弹性模量和抗弯强度，以测试数据的标准差、标准误差和变异系数为评价依据，分析不同长径比的试样和加压弯曲方式对实验结果的影响。结果表明：就加压方式而言，当测试抗弯弹性模量时，三点加压弯曲法优于四点加压弯曲法；就试样长径比而言，长径比为12的试件更适于测试小径级竹材的抗弯弹性模量和抗弯强度。因此，当测试小径级竹材抗弯性能时，宜采用三点加压弯曲方式、长径比为12的试样并按照一定的流程进行操作。     

The influences of boiling and drying treatments on the behaviors of tension wood with gelatinous layers in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zelkova serrata</Emphasis>

This study examined how boiling and drying treatments influenced various physical properties of the tension wood with gelatinous fibers (G-fibers) of a 29-yearold Zelkova branch. By boiling treatment, tension wood with numerous G-fibers contracted considerably in the longitudinal direction and the longitudinal Young’s modulus decreased in spite of the water-saturated condition. The drying treatment caused green tension wood and boiled tension wood with numerous G-fibers to shrink longitudinally and increased their longitudinal Young’s moduli. These specific behaviors in tension wood were highly correlated with the proportion of G-fibers in a specimen and were probably caused by the microscopic behavior of cellulose microfibril (CMF) in the gelatinous layers (G-layers). The longitudinal shrinkage of tension wood due to drying suggests the existence of a hygro-sensible, noncrystalline region in the CMF, which is abundant in the G-layer. Furthermore, the noncrystalline region in the CMF softens during boiling treatment, resulting in the reduction of the longitudinal Young’s modulus in tension wood. The longitudinal contraction of tension wood with G-fibers by boiling might be caused by the tensile growth stress remaining in green G-layers. However, no changes were detected in the 004 d-spacing of cellulose crystal in tension wood from the boiling and drying treatments, regardless of the proportion of G-fibers.     

Effects of Lay-up structure on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Laminated Bamboo Bundle Board

The effects of lay-up layer numbers on laminated bamboo bundle board’s physical and mechanical properties and connection performance were analyzed.The results show that under the conditions of same layer numbers,along with the increase of the lay-up directions,the bending strength,bending modulus,compression strength and horizontal shear strength of the laminated board showed a downward trend,while using non-single direction lay-up structure,the board’s waterproof property was lower than that of single lay-up board, but the board’s connection performance was raised. Therefore,in the real application,with the condition of guaranteeing the mechanical properties of the board to meet operating requirements,the lay-up directions should be increased to improve the board’s connection performance and to increase the board’s safety.