Effects of Incising on Lumber Strength and Stiffness: Relationships Between Incision Density and Depth, Species, and Msr Grade

This report describes the relationship of incising-induced strength loss in bending as a function of preservative treatment and incising pattern, density, and depth of penetration for various machine-stress-rated (MSR) grades of full-size 2 by 4 Douglas-fir, Hem-Fir, and Spruce-Pine-Fir (South) dimension lumber. This study may represent a worst-case "incising effects" scenario: although the incising patterns and depths selected for study represent commonly used industrial practices, the incising process itself was performed on dry lumber, which is not the standard practice of the treating industry. As we had expected on the basis of Canadian results, incising affected bending properties, such as modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and work to maximum load. Our results show that the combined incising-preservative effect on mean property values for lumber incised in the dry condition prior to treatment was in the range of a 0 to 10% loss in modulus of elasticity, 15% to 25% loss in modulus of rupture, and 30% to 50% loss in work to maximum load. The effect on properties at the lower end of the distribution, such as the allowable stress design value Fb was equal to or less than that on mean properties for the three species groups evaluated. While these results specifically apply to only MSR-graded standard 38-mm- (nominal 2-inch-) thick lumber and to lumber incised in the dry condition prior to treatment, they do imply that the new U.S. design adjustments for Ci in modulus of elasticity of 0.95 and Fb of 0.85 may not be sufficient for incised and treated material used in dry in-service conditions

The Effects of CCA Preservative Treatment and Redrying on the Bending Properties of 2 X 6 Southern Pine Lumber

Southern pine dimension lumber (commercially graded No. 2 loblolly pine 2 x 6s) was treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) preservative (0.4 or 0.6 pcf) and then air-dried or kiln-dried (160, 190, or 240 F). CCA treatment significantly reduced average bending strength, but no discernible differences were found between controls and CCA-treated groups in the extreme lower portions (< 10th percentile) of the bending-strength distributions. When these same specimens were then considered solely on the basis of strength-reducing characteristics, there were obvious differences in how the CCA treatments and subsequent redrying affected these various strength-ratio grades of 2 x 6 lumber; higher grades appeared to be less affected than lower grades. Similar to the trend shown when commercially graded, the middle and upper portion of each strength-ratio grade bending-strength distribution than did drying at 240 F affected a broader range of the bending-srength distribution than did drying at 160 F. The broadened range of significant effects noted after high-temperature redrying indicates that posttreatment kiln-drying temperatures higher than 190 F should be avoided.The effects of CCA treatment and redrying were highly interactive with strength-ratio grade and the presence or absence of pith. CCA treatment reduced the strength of lumber containing pith and having a strength ratio of 0.65 and containing pith was not affected by CCA treatment. The magnitude of this pith-related interaction demands recognition

Relationship Between Incipient Decay, Strength, and Chemical Composition of Douglas-Fir Heartwood

A new laboratory technique to simulate the initiation of wood decay and to assess the effects of incipient decay on material properties is described. Douglas-fir heartwood specimens were exposed to brown-rot (Postia placenta and Gloeophyllum trabeum) fungi for various periods. Bending properties were determined by nondestructive and destructive tests, and chemical composition of specimens was analyzed. Weight losses of 1 to 18% were linearly related to strength losses of 5 to 70%. Wood strength loss by brown-rot fungi was also closely related to degradation of hemicellulose components. Hemi-cellulose sidechains, such as arabinose and galactose, were degraded in the earliest stages of decay; main-chain hemicellulose carbohydrates, such as mannose and xylose, were degraded in the later stages. Changes in glucose content, a measure of residual cellulose, were minimal. Our technique was effective for establishing and assessing brown-rot decay

EFFECT OF SPECIMEN WIDTH WHEN EVALUATING LABORATORY-MANUFACTURED, FIRE RETARDANT-TREATED STRANDBOARD

FROM BEFOR

Effect of Incising and Preservative Treatment on Shear Strength of Nominal 2-Inch Lumber

This study evaluated the effects of pretreatment incising of dry lumber and preservative treatment on the shear strength of 1980 pieces of 2 X 4 dimension lumber (nominal 50 mm X 100 mm X 3.6 m long). Three species groups (Douglas-fir, Hem-Fir, adn Spruce-Pine-Fir-South) and two commercially produced machine-stress-rated grades per species group were tested in torsion to determine their shear strength. Incising and preservative treatment produced significant reductions in the average shear strength of Douglas-fir, Hem-Fir, and Spruce-Pine-Fir-South dimension lumber. These effects need to be addressed through the development of more appropriate design values for uses of preservativetreated wood of these species when shear is a governing factor. An adjustment factor of 0.70 is proposed for incised and preservative-treated nominal 2-inch lumber

Effects of incising on lumber strength and stiffness: Relationships between incision density and depth, species, and MSR grade

This report describes the relationship of incising-induced strength loss in bending as a function of preservative treatment and incising pattern, density, and depth of penetration for various machine stress-rated (MSR) grades of full-size 2 by 4 Douglas-fir, Hem-Fir, and Spruce-Pine-Fir (South) dimension lumber. This study may represent a worst-case "incising effects" scenario: although the incising patterns and depths selected for study represent commonly used industrial practices, the incising process itself was performed on dry lumber, which is not the standard practice of the treating industry. As we had expected on the basis of Canadian results, incising affected bending properties, such as modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and work to maximum load. Our results show that the combined incising-preservative effect on mean property values for lumber incised in the dry condition prior to treatment was in the range of a 0 to 10% loss in modulus of elasticity, 15% to 25% loss in modulus of rupture, and 30% to 50% loss in work to maximum load. The effect on properties at the lower end of the distribution, such as the allowable stress design value F, was equal to or less than that on mean properties for the three species groups evaluated. While these results specifically apply to only MSR-graded standard 38-mm- (nominal 2-inch-) thick lumber and to lumber incised in the dry condition prior to treatment, they do imply that the new U.S. design adjustments for C, in modulus of elasticity of 0.95 and F, of 0.85 may not be sufficient for incised and treated material used in dry in-service conditions.Keywords: grade, mechanical properties, Douglas-fir, lumber, preservative, treatment, Spruce-Pine-Fir (South), Hem-Fir, MSR, incisin

Relationship between incipient decay, strength, and chemical composition of Douglas-fir heartwood

A new laboratory technique to simulate the initiation of wood decay and to assess the effects of incipient decay on material properties is described. Douglas-fir heartwood specimens were exposed to brown-rot (Postia placenta and Gloeophyllum trabeum) fungi for various periods. Bendlng properties were determined by nondestructive and destructive tests, and chemical composition of specimens was analyzed. Weight losses of 1 to 18% were linearly related to strength losses of 5 to 70%. Wood strength loss by brown-rot fungi was also closely related to degradation of hemi-cellulosic components. Hemicellulose sidechains, such as arabinose and galactose, were degraded in the earliest stages of decay; main-chain hemicellulose carbohydrates, such as mannose and xylose, were degraded in the later stages. Changes in glucose content, a measure of residual cellulose, were minimal. Our technique was effective for establishing and assessing brown-rot decay.Keywords: mechanical properties, Postia placenta, wood chemistry, Gloeophyllum trabeum, brown rot, decayKeywords: mechanical properties, Postia placenta, wood chemistry, Gloeophyllum trabeum, brown rot, deca

Effect of incising and preservative treatment on shear strength of nominal 2-inch lumber

This study evaluated the effects of pretreatment incising of dry lumber and preservative treatment on the shear strength of 1980 pieces of 2 X 4 dimension lumber (nominal 50 mm X 100 mm X 3.6 m long). Three species groups (Douglas-fir, Hem-Fir. and Spruce-Pine-Fir-South) and two commercially produced machine-stress-rated grades per species group were tested in torsion to determine their shear strength. Incising and preservative treatment produced significant reductions in the average shear strength of Douglas-fir, Hem-Fir, and Spruce-Pine-Fir-South dimension lumber. These effects need to be addressed through the development of more appropriate design values for uses of preservative-treated wood of these species when shear is a governing factor. An adjustment factor of 0.70 is proposed for incised and preservative-treated nominal 2-inch lumber.Keywords: torsion, MSR lumber, grade, incising, shear strength, preservative treatmentKeywords: torsion, MSR lumber, grade, incising, shear strength, preservative treatmen

Mineral Preservatives in the Wood of Stradivari and Guarneri

Following the futile efforts of generations to reach the high standard of excellence achieved by the luthiers in Cremona, Italy, by variations of design and plate tuning, current interest is being focused on differences in material properties. The long-standing question whether the wood of Stradivari and Guarneri were treated with wood preservative materials could be answered only by the examination of wood specimens from the precious antique instruments. In a recent communication (Nature, 2006), we reported about the degradation of the wood polymers in instruments of Stradivari and Guarneri, which could be explained only by chemical manipulations, possibly by preservatives. The aim of the current work was to identify the minerals from the small samples of the maple wood which were available to us from the antique instruments. The ashes of wood from one violin and one cello by Stradivari, two violins by Guarneri, one viola by H. Jay, one violin by Gand-Bernardel were analyzed and compared with a variety of commercial tone woods. The methods of analysis were the following: back-scattered electron imaging, X-ray fluorescence maps for individual elements, wave-length dispersive spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and quantitative microprobe analysis. All four Cremonese instruments showed the unmistakable signs of chemical treatments in the form of chemicals which are not present in natural woods, such as BaSO4, CaF2, borate, and ZrSiO4. In addition to these, there were also changes in the common wood minerals. Statistical evaluation of 12 minerals by discriminant analysis revealed: a. a difference among all four Cremona instruments, b. the difference of the Cremonese instruments from the French and English antiques, and c. only the Cremonese instruments differed from all commercial woods. These findings may provide the answer why all attempts to recreate the Stradivarius from natural wood have failed. There are many obvious implications with regard to how the green tone wood should be treated, which chould lead to changes in the practice of violin-making. This research should inspire others to analyze more antique violins for their chemical contents