Experimental assessment of the annual growth ring’s impact on the mechanical behavior of temperate and tropical species

• Published in: Bioresources Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 4282 - 4293
• Main Authors: Pambou Nziengui, Claude Feldman, Turesson, Jonas, Moutou Pitti, Rostand, Ekevad, Mats
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Raleigh North Carolina State University 01-05-2020
• Subjects: bending test; Cellulose; Climate; Composite materials; Computed tomography; congo basin forest; Dry density; Growth rings; Humidity; massif ventral forest; Massifs; Mechanical properties; Moisture content; Parameters; Physical characteristics; Physical properties; Scanners; Seasons; Species; temperate species; tropical species; Träteknik; Wood Science and Engineering; France; Gabon
• ISSN: 1930-2126; 1930-2126
• DOI: 10.15376/biores.15.2.4282-4293

An innovative experimental protocol is presented, linking a nondestructive (on computed tomography scanner) and destructive approach (bending test on electrostatic press). This study aimed to evaluate the annual growth ring’s impact on the mechanical behavior of wood. The tests were carried out on temperate specimens (Pseudotsuga menziesii and Abies alba Mill) from the Massif Central Region of France and tropical specimens (Aucoumea klaineana Pierre, Milicia excelsa, and Pterocarpus soyauxii) from Gabon. The connection between the mechanical parameters, taken from these tests and their structural characteristics, are also highlighted. Based on these results, a database was formed of the annual growth ring’s impact on the mechanical characteristics of these species. A link was found between the annual growth ring and the mechanical and physical characteristics of the species. The number and width of the earlywood ring and its mechanical properties were also investigated for each type of species. This comparison and the link highlighted was possible due to the study of the impact of dry density’s specimens, considered in this work as an adjustment parameter on the study of the mechanical behavior of these species.