Determination of wood strength properties through standard test procedures

In this study a review of existing recognised standards for wood mechanical testing was conducted. This review considers tensile, compressive, bending and shear test methodologies from a range of sources. In addition, values for wood mechanical properties were obtained through controlled experimentation using a universal material testing machine. Selected standard procedures were used to obtain wood strength properties both along and across the grain. These consist of a three point bending procedure used to evaluate the wood strength across the grain and a longitudinal shear procedure used to evaluate the wood strength along the grain. Strength properties obtained through controlled experimentation are compared to values available in existing literature with little discrepancy

Utilization of temperature kinetics as a method to predict treatment intensity and corresponding treated wood quality : durability and mechanical properties of thermally modified wood

Wood heat treatment is an attractive alternative to improve decay resistance of wood species with low natural durability. However, this improvement of durability is realized at the expense of the mechanical resistance. Decay resistance and mechanical properties are strongly correlated to thermal degradation of wood cells wall components. Mass loss resulting from this degradation is a good indicator of treatment intensity and final treated wood properties. However, the introduction of a fast and accurate system for measuring this mass loss on an industrial scale is very difficult. Nowadays, many studies are conducted on the determination of control parameters which could be correlated with the treatment conditions and final heat treated wood quality such as decay resistance. The aim of this study is to investigate the relations between kinetics of temperature used during thermal treatment process representing heat treatment intensity, mass losses due to thermal degradation and conferred properties to heat treated wood. It might appear that relative area of treatment temperature curves is a good indicator of treatment intensity. Heat treatment with different treatment conditions (temperature-time) have been performed under vacuum, on four wood species (one hardwood and three softwoods) in order to obtain thermal degradation mass loses of 8, 10 and 12%. For each experiment, relative areas corresponding to temperature kinetics, mass loss, decay resistance and mechanical properties have been determined. Results highlight the statement that the temperature curves’ area constitutes a good indicator in the prediction of needed treatment intensity, to obtain required wood durability and mechanical properties such as bending resistance and Brinell hardness.LERMaB is supported by the French National Research Agency through the Laboratory of Excellence ARBRE (ANR-12- LABXARBRE-01), the authors gratefully acknowledge this ai

The effect of elevated temperature exposure on the fracture toughness of solid wood and structural wood composites

This is the author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by Springer and can be found at: http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/forestry/journal/226.Fracture toughness of wood and wood composites has traditionally been characterized by a stress intensity factor, an initiation strain energy release rate (G[subscript init]) or a total energy to fracture (G[subscript f]). These parameters provide incomplete fracture characterization for these materials because the toughness changes as the crack propagates. Thus for materials such as wood, oriented strand board (OSB), plywood and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), it is essential to characterize the fracture properties during crack propagation by measuring a full crack resistant or R curve. This study used energy methods during crack propagation to measure full R curves and then compared the fracture properties of wood and various wood-based composites such as, OSB, LVL and plywood. The effect of exposure to elevated temperature on fracture properties of these materials was also studied. The steady state energy release rate (G[subscript SS]) of wood was lower than that of wood composites such as LVL, plywood and OSB. The resin in wood composites provides them with a higher fracture toughness compared to solid lumber. Depending upon the internal structure of the material the mode of failure also varied. With exposure to elevated temperatures, G[subscript SS] for all materials decreased while the failure mode remained the same. The scatter associated with conventional bond strength tests, such as internal bond (IB) and bond classification tests, renders any statistical comparison using those tests difficult. In contrast, fracture tests with R curve analysis may provide an improved tool for characterization of bond quality in wood composites

Lignosulfonate as a Strength Additive for Non-Wood Paperboard

Recycle mills that use old corrugated cardboard (OCC) in their furnish experience difficulties in maintaining the quality of the paperboard produced. Recycle mills using the OCC collect their OCC from many parts of the world. Countries such as China and Japan use rice fibers in the production of corrugated cardboard. Other countries use straw as a fiber source. The end result is that OCC in the United States contains a portion of non-wood fibers as well as the typical wood fibers. Paperboard containing these non-wood fibers typically has lower strength properties than paperboard produced from pure wood fibers. Literature suggests that lignosulfonate compounds can be used as a strength agent for recycled wood fiber paperboards. Calcium lignosulfonate is readily available and is not costly and would prove to be an ideal strength agent for use in recycled paperboard. The objective of this project was to test calcium lignosulfonate as a strength agent in improving the runnability and strength properties on paperboard made from wheat straw paperboard and/or paperboard containing a mixture of wheat straw and wood fibers. Handsheets (120g/m2 ) were prepared on a Noble and Wood handsheet machine. The handsheets from each furnish were then immersed in a bath of calcium lignosulfonate followed by an immersion in kymene. Calcium lignosulfonate levels were varied in the bath in order to control the amount of calcium lignosulfonate applied to each handsheet. The results show that as far as recycled pulp is concerned, CaLS at 10% is definitely beneficial compared with no CaLS in all strength properties. In the case of straw paperboard, 10% CaLS definitely gives higher strength properties compared with no CaLS (except for burst and Scott bond). Higher CaLS levels (10% or 20%) may be justified only in the case of ring crush. As for mixed fiber paperboard, CaLS seems to yield better strength properties (except in the case of Scott bond and burst). While 10% CaLS still seems to be sufficient, 20% seems to result in better crushing resistance and stiffness. The conclusion of this project is that 10% CaLS yields better strength properties in most of the cases and can be the starting point for further refinement studies

Moisture content analysis of wooden bridges

The article deals with assessing the impact of moisture content conditions in wood mass of the wood bridges constructions on their lifespan in Central Europe. Wood moisture content as one of main factors influencing the wooden elements mechanical properties was studied on seventeen wooden bridge constructions. The dependence of temperature and relative humidity on material moisture content was observed in summer season and also in winter season. The lifespan of historical and modern wood structures was discussed as well.Web of Science64354453