Impact of cyclic compressive loading and moisture content on the mechanical behavior of Aucoumea Klaineana Pierre

The mechanical behavior of Aucoumea Klaineana Pierre (AKP) under progressive static and cyclic compressive loading at various moisture content (MC) stages is investigated herein. This tropical species, also called Okume, originates from the Congo Basin, particularly Gabon. The experimental device used is composed of an electronic testing machine, a system yielding the corresponding MC, and AKP wood samples. In all, 15 AKP samples were loaded in statics, at different MC levels, until the first cracks led to characterizing the mechanical behavior of the species in static compression along the longitudinal direction. Next, seven samples of AKP were gradually loaded at distinct MC values, with five under cyclic longitudinal compression. Results show that under a static longitudinal compressive loading, the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of AKP decreases as sample MC increases. For the cyclic compressive loading after the first cycle, sample MOE increases with both the intensity and number of loading cycles as well as with the permanent deformation of each cycle. Moreover, it can be observed that within the plasticity domain, the impact of MC variation on the mechanical behavior of AKP is negligible.     

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.     

Effects of basic density,annual growth and drying schedule on selected quality factors of dried Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) timber

Abstract

Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) timber is suitable for many uses in the mechanical wood industry. Drying it without any decrease in value, however, is difficult and slow. The purpose of this research was to compare the drying quality of Siberian larch timber dried with three different conventional schedules taking into account the density and annual growth of wood. Five drying tests were performed. The final moisture content (MC), MC gradient, cracks, deformations (bow, crook, twist and cup) and case hardening were measured from the dried timber. The basic density particularly affected the MC, as shown in the differences regarding dried wood, with the denser wood having higher final MC and MC gradient. It was also found that large annual growth increased some deformations. Most of the measured factors were best after drying at the highest temperatures used; however, a slightly different trend was observed for bow, twist and cup. MC factors and twisting were the most problematic properties in drying according to this study. Sorting Siberian larch timber, particularly according to density, would improve the MC properties of dried timber by ensuring sufficient drying time, as economically as possible, for each timber piece.     

A portable NMR sensor for moisture monitoring of wooden works of art, particularly of paintings on wood

It is proposed the use of a mobile device based on a NMR single-sided sensor for in situ non-invasive determination of the moisture content (MC) of wood items, especially items of Cultural Heritage interest. The MC is obtained through the moisture volume fraction, which is an appropriate quantity for the sensor and corresponds to the fraction of its measurements sensitive volume occupied by water. The device has been used here to track changes in MC of wood specimens caused by changes over time of the environmental relative humidity. The kinetics of water adsorption has been related to results obtained with the gravimetric method. Measurements on an old painting, the Pietà (1516–1517), oil on a poplar wood panel by Sebastiano del Piombo (1485 Venice, 1547 Rome), Civic Museum, Viterbo, Italy, have shown, conclusively, the good sensitivity of the sensor and its capability to behave as a non-invasive and in situ utilizable device. Results of in situ painting measurements show that the NMR sensor can track moisture fluctuations that are outside the sensitivity range and precision of electro-hygrometric approach.     

Feeding activities of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe) as affected by moisture content of wood

The relationship between the moisture content (MC) of wood blocks and the feeding activities of two Japanese subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe), was investigated with two choice tests. When three wood blocks with low MC (6%–12%), middle MC (79%–103%), and high MC (140%–182%) were exposed to workers of C. formosanus and R. speratus in a choice test, the feeding preferences were found in the middle MC blocks for C. formosanus, and the middle and high MC blocks for R. speratus, although wood blocks of low MC were also attacked. In a second choice test, wood blocks consisting of five pieces with water-impregnated (MC: 133%–191%) top, middle, or bottom piece were exposed to workers of both species. Higher consumptions were generally obtained in water-impregnated wood pieces and bottom pieces.     

Studies on pre-treatment by compression for wood drying III: the reduction of moisture content,the recovery rate,and mechanical properties of wood compressed at different moisture content conditions

As a follow-up report, the pre-treatment by compression for wood drying was systematically studied in terms of the reduction of moisture content (MC), the recovery rate (RR), and mechanical properties of wood compressed at different MC conditions. The results showed that MC after compression on water-saturated wood determined the critical value of MC before compression which were about 84 and 105% at a compression ratio of 60 and 40% for Poplar and Chinese fir, respectively. Beyond the critical value, MC after compression remained constantly at about 84% and decreased slightly from 105% for Poplar and Chinese fir, respectively. The MC reduction decreased with the decrease of MC before compression. The MC reduction was rather effective when the MC before compression was higher than the critical value and was recommended to pre-treat for the effectiveness of MC reduction. In addition, after the recovery, the wood volume and mechanical properties were well retained for the wood compressed at all MC conditions which were above fiber saturation point (FSP) before and after compression. Therefore, the pre-treatment by compression is viable in terms of the RR and mechanical properties at rather broad MC conditions above FSP. Moreover, the compression force needed for treatment was almost same at these MC conditions.     

Real-time wood moisture-content determination using dual-energy X-ray computed tomography scanning

ABSTRACT

The estimation of the pixel-wise distribution of the moisture content (MC) in wood using X-ray computed tomography (CT) requires two scans of the same wood specimen at different MCs, one of which is known. Image-processing algorithms are needed to compensate for the anisotropic distortion that wood undergoes as it dries. An alternative technique based on dual-energy CT (DECT) to determine MC in wood has been suggested by several authors. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that DECT can be used for the determination of MC in real time. A method based on the use of the quotient between the linear attenuation coefficients (μ) at different acceleration voltages (the so-called quotient method) was used. A statistical model was created to estimate the MC in solid sapwood of Scots pine, Norway spruce and brittle willow. The results show a regression model with R²?>?0.97 that can predict the MC in these species with a RMSE of prediction of 0.07, 0.04 and 0.11 (MC in decimal format) respectively and at MC levels ranging from the green to the totally dry condition. Individual measurements of MC show an uncertainty of up to ±0.4. It is concluded that under the conditions prevailing in this study, and in studies referred to in this paper, it is not possible to measure MC with DECT.     

Compression behaviors of acetylated wood in organic liquids. Part I. Compression in equilibrium conditions

The radial compression behaviors of acetylated cedar wood were measured in various liquids. The compressive Young’s modulus (E) of acetylated wood was reduced by soaking in water, toluene, and acetone, but it was always greater than that of water-swollen unmodified wood at the same swelling level. The behaviors of acetone-swollen unmodified wood were similar to those of acetylated wood rather than those of water-swollen unmodified wood. These results indicated that the swelling of hydrophobic wood components had a lesser influence on the E of wood than the water-swelling of unmodified hydrophilic components. After large compression (ε > 45%), a part of the strain remained unrecovered because of irreversible mechanical deformation. Since the remaining strain was smaller in the wood specimens indicating greater stress relaxation, it was assumed that the viscoelastic deformation of amorphous matrix components is important for lesser irreversible deformation and effective shape recovery of wood. In contrast with water-swollen unmodified wood, the acetylated wood and acetone-swollen unmodified wood exhibited greater shape recovery despite their relatively higher E. This suggested that the swelling of hydrophobic wood components reduced the viscosity of the matrix rather than its elasticity, resulting in more effective shape recovery with lesser softening.     

Effects of temperature and moisture content on selected wood mechanical properties involved in the chipping process

The effects of temperature and moisture content on selected mechanical properties associated with the chipping process were evaluated. In chipping, mechanical properties such as shear parallel to the grain, cleavage, and bending are involved. Matched samples of heartwood and sapwood were obtained from freshly harvested logs of black spruce and balsam fir to determine the variation of the studied mechanical properties between ?30 and 20 °C, at intervals of 10 °C. Moisture content (MC), basic density (BD), and annual ring width (RW) were measured for each sample. For both wood species, temperature had a significant effect on all mechanical properties under freezing conditions (below 0 °C). This effect was more important for sapwood than for heartwood, which was explained by the difference in MC between these two types of wood. Between 0 and 20 °C, temperature and type of wood did not show any significant effect on the mechanical properties. Multiple regression models were obtained to predict the mechanical properties. These regressions showed that MC was the most important factor to explain the mechanical properties below 0 °C. However, for temperatures of 0 °C and higher, BD was the principal factor to predict the mechanical properties. RW was not a significant factor to predict any mechanical property. Cleavage was the most sensitive one to changes in temperature followed by shear, modulus of rupture, and modulus of elasticity. These results could be of great importance in the chipping process.     

Mechanical behavior of the crystalline region of wood and the piezoelectric response of wood in tension tests

We investigated the relationship between the crystal lattice strain and the piezoelectric response in Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) wood fibers subjected to tension stress in the fiber direction. As a result, the piezoelectric voltage was very sensitive to the mechanical behavior (deformation) of the wood crystalline regions obtained from the x-ray stress measurement. Thus, by investigating the behavior of piezoelectric voltage, it was possible to simply estimate the mechanical behavior of the crystalline regions in the wood.     

数字图像相关技术及其在木材科学研究中的应用

数字图像相关方法(DIC)作为一种先进的光学形变(位移和应变)检测方法, 已逐渐成为木材科学领域中一种重要的测试手段。文中概括了DIC的特点与基本原理; 综述了其在木材科学领域中的应用, 主要包括力学性能检测、木材干燥形变测量及其他木质基材料等的相关性能研究; 最后, 对其在木材科学领域研究中遇到的机遇与挑战进行了展望。     

Basic density determination for Swedish softwoods and its influence on average moisture content of wood packages estimated by measuring their mass

In this work, a set-up with a device measuring the mass of wood packages is examined as an aid to estimate the average moisture content (MC) of wood packages. As the basic density needs to be presumed in the set-up, an estimator of the basic density as a function of log diameter is determined for Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). In total, 1920 specimens were collected at two different sawmills and analysed for this purpose. Specimens collected at the butt-end of pine had the greatest variation in basic density and it is recommended that they should be omitted when sawmills create their own functions for basic density estimation. Furthermore, the variation in basic density was shown to have the greatest impact on the estimated MC. A maximum error estimator of the MC became 14% at a MC of 70% and 9% at a MC of 10%. It was therefore concluded that the described method should not be used to estimate the MC of packages after drying but can serve as a valuable indicator of average green MC of a drying batch.     

Liquid penetration in different cells of two hardwood species

Two experimental techniques were used to test the water permeability of two Korean hardwood species: diffuse porous Populus tomentiglandulosa T. Lee (eunsasi poplar) and ring porous white oak, Quercus serrata Thunb (konara oak). The first technique measured the void volume filled at different moisture content (MC) levels. Samples were treated with water via a schedule of full-cell impregnation. A significant relation between MC and permeability (the fractional void volume) was found. A reduction in liquid permeability was observed at MC above the fiber saturation point (FSP), whereas the opposite result was observed at MC below FSP due to the effect of the voids available in the wood. However, the differences of increased permeability from MC level 20% to 0% were found satistically the same in either wood species. The second technique measured the speed of liquid penetration in vessels, fibers, and rays with no application of external pressure. In this method, liquid flow was captured via video and the penetration speed was measured. Vessels, fibers, and rays in poplar were found to be more permeable than those in oak. Different anatomical factors such as cell diameter, cell length, pit number, pit aperture area, and thickness of the pit membrane seemed to be responsible for the variation of liquid flow rate in different cells of the two hardwood species.     

Physical properties of two tropical wood species from Mozambique

Abstract

The aim of this study was to reveal some important physical properties of two lesser used wood species from Mozambique. Density of wood, green moisture content (MC), shrinkage, swelling, sorption–desorption behaviour and quantitative colour analyses were carried out to facilitate the potential use of Icuria dunensis (ncurri) and Pseudolachnostylis maprounaefolia (ntholo). The study found that the average densities at 12% MC were 907.1 kg m^?3 for ncurri and 1023.4 kg m^?3 for ntholo. The average values of green MC were 31.4% for ncurri and 39.2% for ntholo. Ncurri and ntholo wood showed low coefficients of anisotropy for heartwood, 1.3 and 1.4, respectively. The colour measurements described the patterns of radial and longitudinal variations in wood colour. In conclusion, ntholo and ncurri are characterized by high density and dimensional stability. Ntholo can be used where small dimensional changes are required, e.g. in joinery, flooring and furniture.     

Shear fracture characterization of green-glued polyurethane wood adhesive bonds at various moisture and gluing conditions

Abstract

The shear fracture properties of green-glued one-component polyurethane (PUR) wood adhesive bonds subjected to kiln drying were investigated. The local shear strength and fracture energy of the wood adhesive bonds were determined from experimentally recorded complete shear stress versus deformation curves of the bond line. A stable test set-up and small specimens that were anti-symmetrically loaded were used in order to get a uniform and pure state of shear stress. Different moisture contents (MCs) and pressing times were investigated. The fracture properties of conventionally dry-glued wood adhesive bonds and of solid wood were used as reference. The results show that the fracture energy of green-glued bonds with PUR adhesive is dependent on the MC of wood and on the pressing time. The same fracture energy and strength can be obtained by green gluing as by dry gluing, but there seems to exist a maximum MC of sapwood, in the range between 78% and 160%, and a minimum pressing time, in the range between 3 h and 48 h, for which it can be achieved. Both dry- and green-glued polyurethane adhesive bonds were more ductile than solid wood.     

Detection of wood density by using a DOE sensor

HeNe laser light components scattered through small wood samples from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were investigated using a diffractive optical element (DOE) sensor and the optical signals compared with optical density data extracted from x-ray negatives of the respective samples. Good agreement between the x-ray and optical signals was observed with respect to the gravimetric density of the Scots pine samples. Received 20 January 1999     

Mechanical properties of wood in an unstable state due to temperature changes,and analysis of the relevant mechanism IV: effect of chemical components on destabilization of wood

In order to investigate the effects of chemical components and matrix structure on the destabilization of quenched wood, we examined the physical and mechanical properties of steam-treated wood, hemicellulose-extracted wood, and delignified wood, which were treated at different levels. For steam-treated and hemicellulose-extracted wood,the relative relaxation modulus of the quenched sample was lower than that of the respective control sample. For delignified wood, the relative relaxation modulus fell with weight loss and reached a minimum value at a certain weight loss, and subsequently increased significantly. The hygroscopicity of all treated samples changed slightly by steaming, whereas increased with removing the component. More-over, the average volumetric swelling per 1% MC at 100% relative humidity (RH) was less than at 75% RH and 93% RH for component-removed wood. It was clear that a void structure existed. As a result, the destabilization evaluated by the fluidity (1 - E _t/E ₀) of steam-treated wood was influenced by the amount of adsorbed water. For component-removed wood, destabilization increased temporarily at lower weight loss because of nonuniform cohesive structure. At high weight loss, destabilization will decreased because capillary-condensed water gathered in the voids and obstructed the motion of adsorbed water. However, the destabilization of all treated wood changed less than that of chemically modified wood.     

Measuring moisture content profiles in a board during drying: a polychromatic X-ray system interfaced with a vacuum/pressure laboratory kiln

A standard X-ray source and an energy-sensitive detector were placed on both sides of a wood dryer which operates over a wide range of drying conditions. The spectrometric X-ray intensities transmitted through the wood sample were related to the mass concentration of wood and water using a rigorous calculation needed in the case of a polychromatic X-ray beam. The source and the detector are carried by a motion controller in order to scan the sample at different drying times and determine the moisture content (MC) profile along the board thickness. Treatment on spectrometric data and the evolution of the MC profiles in a Norway spruce board (Picea abies) are presented in this work.     

Influence of wood moisture content and wood temperature on fungal decay in the field: observations in different micro-climates

In this study, Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Douglas fir heartwood (Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco) specimens were exposed in double layer field trials at four different exposure sites and under different exposure conditions (in total ten test sets). The material climate of wood in terms of wood moisture content (MC) and wood temperature was automatically monitored over a period of 6 years and compared with the progress of decay. The aim of this study was to highlight the interrelationship between microclimate, material climate, and decay as a basis for the establishment of dose-response functions to be used for service life prediction of wood and wood-based products. Differences in resulting decay dynamics between the test sites as well as between the different types of exposure were quantified and discussed with respect to corresponding microclimatic and material climatic conditions. The time between the beginning of exposure and the first occurrence of visible decay varied between the sites and influenced the total decay development. The fundamental importance of direct decay factors, such as MC and wood temperature, were underlined and basic requirements for establishing dose-response-functions to be used in service life prediction models were derived.     

Dose–response relationships between wood moisture content,wood temperature and fungal decay determined for 23 European field test sites

Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Douglas fir heartwood (Pseudotsuga menziesii Franco) specimens were exposed in double layer field trials at 23 different European test sites under different exposure conditions (in total 27 test sets). The material climate in terms of wood moisture content (MC) and wood temperature was automatically monitored over a period of up to 7 years and compared with the progress of decay. The overall aim of this study was to establish dose–response relationships between climate factors and decay as a basis for the service life prediction of wood. The “Scheffer Climate Index” based on weather data collected at official meteorological stations at the different test sites poorly correlated with the corresponding decay progress and was therefore not a suitable tool for estimating site-specific decay potential. In contrast, the use of the combined material climatic parameters MC and wood temperature led to a feasible dose–response function and turned out to be a useful basis for service life prediction of wood.