Mechanical behavior of the crystal lattice of natural cellulose in wood under repeated uniaxial tension stress in the fiber direction

This study investigated the relationship between the cellulose crystal lattice strain (crystalline region) and the macroscopic surface strain in specimens of Chamaecyparis obtusa wood under repeated uniaxial tension stress in the fiber direction. Changes in the strain of the crystal lattice were measured from the peak of (004) reflection using the transit X-ray method. The macroscopic surface strain of each specimen was measured with a strain gauge. In both loading and unloading, the surface strain changed linearly with changes in stress. However, crystal lattice strain was not linear but exhibited changes along a curve with changing stress. Under stressed conditions, the crystal lattice strain was always less than the surface strain, regardless of the frequency of repetition in the loading and unloading cycle. The ratio of the crystal lattice strain to the surface strain showed a negative correlation for stress in both loading and unloading. That is, the ratio decreased with increasing stress, and finally tend to converge to a specific value. The ratio (I/I ₀) between the diffracted intensity (I ₀) in the (004) plane in the unloaded condition and the diffracted intensity (I) in the (004) plane in the loaded condition tend to converge on a specific value with increasing frequency of repetition. When the substantial tension Young’s modulus of the wood in the longitudinal direction decreased, the ratio of the strain of the crystal lattice to the surface strain also decreased. Moreover, the ratio decreased with increasing microfibril angle of the specimen.     

Creep and stress relaxation behavior for natural cellulose crystal of wood cell wall under uniaxial tensile stress in the fiber direction

We investigated the temporal changes in creep and stress relaxation behavior in both microscopic crystalline cellulose and macroscopic strain of wood specimen using Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) to understand the viscoelastic properties of wood cell walls. Specimens 600 µm in thickness were observed by the X-ray diffraction and submitted to tensile load. The crystal lattice strain of (004) plane and macroscopic strain of specimen were continuously detected during creep and stress relaxation tests. It was found that the creep compliance based on macroscopic strain showed a gradual increase after instantaneous deformation due to loading and then the parts of creep deformation remained as permanent strain after unloading. On the other hand, crystal lattice strain showed a different behavior for macroscopic strain; it kept a constant value after instantaneous deformation due to loading and then increased gradually after a certain period of time. These differences between macroscopic and microscopic levels were never found in the stress relaxation tests in this study. Relaxation modulus at the macroscopic level only showed a decreasing trend throughout the relaxation process. However crystal lattice strain kept a constant value during the macroscopic relaxation process. In addition, the microfibril angle (MFA) of wood cell wall has a role of mechanical behavior at microscopic level; crystal lattice strains were smaller with increasing MFA at both creep and relaxation processes. Creep compliance and stress relaxation modulus at the macroscopic level decreased and increased with increasing MFA, respectively. Our results on the viscoelastic behavior at microscopic level evidenced its dependency on MFA.     

Strain-softening behavior of wood under tension perpendicular to the grain

Three softwood samples and one hardwood sample were tested under a tension load applied along the radial direction using small clear specimens and the local tension strain was measured using the digital image correlation method. We successfully obtained a stress-strain curve with a strain-softening branch by calculating the stress using the strain distributions in the vicinity where the specimen ruptured. The continuous digital imaging of the specimen proved to be very effective for measuring the strain in quasi-brittle materials such as wood under tension. The nonlinearity of the stress-strain curve was quantified using two parameters representing the deviation from linear elasticity, and the formula of the stress-strain curve was deduced from the interrelation between these parameters. This formula is expressed quite simply by using the modulus of elasticity along the radial direction and another constant that is unique to the material. Part of this article was presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Akita, Japan, August 2006     

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.     

On the detachment of the gelatinous layer in tension wood fiber

The detachment of the gelatinous layer (G-layer), often observed on microtome cross sections, has led some authors to believe that the G-layer cannot act as the driving force of longitudinal shrinkage in tension wood. The aim of this study was to observe the detachment of the G-layer along fibers. Green wood blocks were cut transversely into two samples. One sample was kept in water and the other was oven-dried. With one face being common to both samples, the detachment of the G-layer was studied on the same fibers. Observations were performed after blocking deformation by embedding. This revealed that the detachment of the G-layer is an effect produced by the act of cutting the transverse face of the wood block to be embedded. At distances greater than 100 µm from this primary surface of the sample, no detachment was observed. Drying shrinkage shows little or no effect on this detachment. The result seems to explain well why the detachment of the G-layer occurs during sectioning using conventional sliding microtomy. These observations prove the adhesion of the G-layer in massive wood and confirm the active role of the G-layer in tension wood properties.     

Acoustoelastic effect of wood II: Effect of compressive stress on the velocity of ultrasonic longitudinal waves parallel to the transverse direction of the wood

The changes in the velocity of ultrasonic waves propagating in wood parallel to the direction of applied stress are discussed. The ultrasonic mode was longitudinal waves traveling along the direction of applied stress with the compressive load applied parallel to the transverse direction of the wood. The ultrasonic velocities were measured by the sing-around method. The experimental results indicated the existence of an acoustoelastic phenomenon in the transverse direction of the wood. The percent change in the ultrasonic velocity was given as a function of the applied stress. The change in the velocity depended on the species and structural direction of the wood. That is, in the radial direction of hardwood, the ultrasonic velocity increased with increases in compressive stress at the initial stress level of less than 2MPa; it then gradually decreased with increases in stress. A change in velocity from an increase to a decrease was considered a unique phenomenon for wood. In contrast, in the radial direction of softwood and the tangential direction of hardwood, the ultrasonic velocity decreased with increases in stress from the beginning of loading. This phenomenon is also generally observed in metallic materials. The relations between velocity and stress at the initial stress level and between velocity and strain in the range of large deformation are represented by essentially straight lines. The acoustoelastic constants of wood were obtained from these relations at the initial stress level. The absolute values of the constants in the transverse direction of wood were larger than those for metals and were larger than those for the longitudinal direction of wood reported in our previous paper.This research was presented at the 1st Meeting of the Research Society of the Acoustoelastic Measurements in the Japan Society of Non-Destructive Inspection at Osaka, October 1996 and at the 47th Annual Meeting of Japan Wood Research Society at Kochi, April 1997     

Erratum to: Mechanical properties of wood in an unstable state due to temperature changes,and analysis of the relevant mechanism III: Effect of quenching on stress relaxation of chemically modified woods

In order to understand the mechanism of destabilization occurring when wood is quenched, we applied chemical modifications, and controlled the number of moisture adsorption sites in wood. The degree of destabilization was evaluated according to the fluidity (1-E _t/E ₀), increase in fluidity, and relative fluidity in relation to the nonmodified wood, and was discussed by comparing these quantities with the hygroscopicity or swelling of wood. We found that destabilization of chemically modified wood was lower than that in nonmodified wood, and the amount of adsorbed water controlled the magnitude of flow of wood. Moreover, according to the analysis of water state by the Hailwood-Horrobin equation, it was shown that the function of dissolved water to the fluidity is almost identical for both chemical modifications, whereas hydrated water has more effect on acetylated wood than on formaldehydetreated wood. We speculate that the motion of water molecules due to quenching accompanied with the redistribution of energy resulting from the exchange of their potential energy and movement to attain a new balance, and the introduced acetyl groups and cross-linking restrict the water molecule movement. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Acoustoelastic birefringence effect in wood I: effect of applied stresses on the velocities of ultrasonic shear waves propagating transversely to the stress direction

The velocity changes of ultrasonic shear waves propagating transversely to the applied stress direction in wood were investigated. The wave oscillation directions were parallel and normal to the uniaxially applied stress direction. The velocities of the shear waves for both oscillations decreased as the compressive load increased, and increased as the tensile load increased. The velocity of the normally oscillated shear wave showed smaller change against the stress applied than that of the parallel oscillated wave. The initial birefringence due to the orthotropy of wood was observed without any stress. Velocity changes in the two principally oscillated shear waves were proportional to the stress within the stress range tested. The acoustoelastic birefringence effect was obtained from the velocity difference between the two shear waves. The relative difference between the two velocities (called acoustic anisotropy) was given as a function of the applied stress. The acoustoelastic birefringence constants were obtained from the relationships between the acoustic anisotropy and the applied stress.     

Enzymatic degradation of cellulose,cellulose derivatives and hemicelluloses in relation to the fungal decay of wood

Summary Cellulases and hemicellulases (mannanase and xylanase) from culture filtrates of various fungi, including a brown rot fungus, Polyporus schweinitzii and a soft rot fungus, Chaetomium globosum, have been isolated and characterized. Investigations of their molecular weights, pH- and temperature optima and stabilities indicate that hydrolases of the wood destroying fungi are very similar to one another and to hydrolases from various other plant organisms. Substrate specificities and the effect of substituents on the natural substrates have also been investigated. Routine tests for mannanase and xylanase were carried out with model substrates (mannan from Tubera salep, xylan from wheat straw), but preliminary tests with complex hemicelluloses isolated from wood showed that these too could be broken down to monoor oligosaccharides. The results presented are discussed in relation to possible roles of the various enzymes in vivo.Paper presented at the Int. Wood Chemistry Symposium, Seattle, 3. IX. 1969.With support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Initial shapes of stress-strain curve of wood specimen subjected to repeated combined compression and vibration stresses and the piezoelectric behavior

This study investigated the relationship between the initial shape of the stress (σ)-strain (ε) curve of a Chamaecyparis obtusa wood specimen subjected to repeated combined compression and vibration stresses at various angles between the fiber direction and load direction and the piezoelectric behavior. The main findings of the study are: (1) the σ-ε curve became convex initially, and then the stress was proportional to the strain. The σ-ε curve had almost the same shape during both loading and unloading. (2) The σ-piezoelectric voltage (P) curve was nonlinear, with a maximal point or cusp on the curve, which had almost the same shape during both loading and unloading, as was also observed for the σ-ε curve. (3) The plot of the first derivative of the stress [dσ/dε (= σ′)] against ε was nonlinear. The σ′-ε and P-ε curves at various angles were fairly similar. (4) The stress at the maximal point (or cusp) of the σ-P curve decreased with an increase in the angle between the fiber direction and load direction. The tendency of the stresses was very similar to that of Young’s modulus and compression strength calculated from Hook’s law and Hankinson’s law, respectively.     

Acoustoelastic effect of wood III: effect of applied stresses on the velocity of ultrasonic waves propagating normal to the direction of the applied stress

Changes in the velocity of ultrasonic waves propagating in wood normal to the direction of applied stresses are discussed. The ultrasonic modes considered here are longitudinal waves and shear waves with particle motion along the direction of the applied stress. The ultrasonic velocities in wood were measured by the sing-around method. From the results of the acoustoelastic experiments in wood, changes in the ultrasonic velocities were expressed as a function of the applied stress. For the shear waves, the ultrasonic velocities decreased with an increase in compressive stress from the initial stress level. On the other hand, the ultrasonic velocities under tensile stress increased with an increase in stress at low stress levels and then gradually decreased with further a increase in the stress. In contrast, the longitudinal wave velocities increased with an increase in compressive stress at low stress levels and then decreased with additional increase in the stress. The wave velocities under a tensile stress decreased with an increase in the stress. The proportional relations between velocities and stresses at low stress levels are confirmed, and acoustoelastic constants were obtained from these relations. Their absolute values were smaller than those reported in previous studies but larger than those of metals. The acoustoelastic effect seemed to be almost equivalent on the sensitivity for stress measurement as the strain-gauge method.Part of this research was presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Shizuoka, April, 1998     

On the mechanical interaction between cellulose microfibrils and matrix substances in wood cell walls: effects of chemical pretreatment and subsequent repeated dry-and-wet treatment

We investigated the influences of chemical pretreatments and subsequent repeated dry-and-wet (RDW) treatments on the mechanical linkage between cellulose microfibrils (CMFs) and matrix substances (MT) in wood cell wall. Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) quarter-sawn specimens were subjected to various types of chemical pretreatments, including ethanol and benzene extraction, delignification, alkali extraction, and hygrothermal treatment, to give substantial damages to principal constituents of wood cell wall, followed by 5 times of RDW treatment. After giving chemical pretreatment, the d-spacing of (200) lattice plane of cellulose I_β (d ₂₀₀), the crystallinity of wood cell wall, and the crystal size of the cellulose were measured at the fiber saturated point, using X-ray diffraction techniques. Thereafter, these were measured again at the absolutely dried condition in the process of subsequent RDW treatments. The d ₂₀₀ in specimens, which were given to light pretreatments, largely expanded by drying at the early stages of RDW treatments, then it decreased and became constant after 5 times of RDW treatments. On the other hand, d ₂₀₀ in specimens, which were given to intensive pretreatments, remained constant at a relatively small level throughout the whole process of RDW treatments. After 5 times of RDW treatments, d ₂₀₀ became similar values between the above two groups. This suggests that RDW treatments have similar effects as intensive pretreatments, which induce substantial damages to the microscopic region in the wood cell wall such as interfacial separation between CMF, MT, and so forth. These defects would weaken mechanical interaction between CMF and MT in the wood cell wall during drying.     

Acoustoelastic birefringence effect in wood II: influence of texture anisotropy on the polarization direction of shear wave in wood

Ultrasonic shear waves were propagated through the breadth direction of a wood beam which was subjected to a bending load such that it was in a plane-stress state. The oscillation direction of the shear waves with respect to the wood beam axis was varied by rotating an ultrasonic sensor, and the relationship between the shear wave velocity and the oscillation direction was examined. The results indicate that when the oscillation direction of the shear wave corresponds to the tangential direction of the wood beam, the shear wave velocity decreases sharply and the relationship between shear wave velocity and rotation angle tends to become discontinuous. When the oscillation of the shear waves occurs in the anisotropic direction of the wood beam instead of in the direction of principal stress, the shear wave velocity exhibits a peak value. In addition, the polarization direction was found to correspond to the direction of anisotropy of the wood beam according to the theory of acoustoelastic birefringence with respect to plane stress. This indicates that when the acoustoelastic birefringence method is applied to stress measurement of wood, it is appropriate to align the oscillation direction of the shear wave with the principal axial direction of anisotropy in order to carry out ultrasonic measurement.     

Mechanical analysis of the strains generated by water tension in plant stems. Part I: stress transmission from the water to the cell walls

Plant tissues shrink and swell in response to changes in water pressure. These strains can be easily measured, e.g., at the surface of tree stems, to obtain indirect information about plant water status and other physiological parameters. We developed a mechanical model to clarify how water pressure is transmitted to cell walls and causes shrinkage of plant tissues, particularly in the case of thick-walled cells such as wood fibers. Our analysis shows that the stress inside the fiber cell walls is lower than the water tension. The difference is accounted for by a stress transmission factor that depends on two main effects. The first effect is the dilution of the stress through the cell wall, because water acts at the lumen border and is transmitted to the outer border of the cell, which has a larger circumference. The second effect is the partial conversion of radial stress into tangential stress. Both effects are quantified as functions of parameters of the cell wall structure and its mechanical properties.     

Mechanical analysis of the strains generated by water tension in plant stems. Part II: strains in wood and bark and apparent compliance

Tree stems shrink in diameter during the day and swell during the night in response to changes in water tension in the xylem. Stem shrinkage can easily be measured in a nondestructive way, to derive continuous information about tree water status. The relationship between the strain and the change in water tension can be evaluated by empirical calibrations, or can be related to the structure of the plant. A mechanical analysis was performed to make this relationship explicit. The stem is modeled as a cylinder made of multiple layers of tissues, including heartwood, sapwood, and inner and outer bark. The effect of changes in water tension on the apparent strain at the surface of a tissue is quantified as a function of parameters defining stem anatomy and the mechanical properties of the tissues. Various possible applications in the context of tree physiology are suggested.