Abstract
Bending strength, modulus of elasticity and density were obtained for 981 specimens of Spanish Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) sawn timber from five provenances. Four-point bending tests were made with three sizes (40 × 100 × 2,500, 40 × 150 × 3,500 and 70 × 150 × 3,500 mm) according to EN 408 (CEN EN 408:2011). Visual grading criteria were established, resulting in 82 % of the samples being classified as one structural quality, namely MEF. Characteristic values of the density and the mechanical properties were determined according to EN 384 (CEN EN 384:2010a): E 0,mean = 12.3 kN mm−2; f m,k = 28 N mm−2 and ρ k = 510 kg m−3. Therefore, a strength class D24 was assigned according to EN 338 (CEN EN 338:2010b). The relationship between the modulus of elasticity and bending strength was lower (R2 = 0.26) than for Spanish coniferous species.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (MICIN) and the Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation of the Principality of Asturias (PCTI) for supporting this research through the research project “Forest and industrial valorization of Spanish chestnut” (VALOCAS) and its funding through the Singular Strategic Projects (MICIN) and Complementary Support for Singular Strategic Projects carried out in Asturias (PCTI).
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Vega, A., Arriaga, F., Guaita, M. et al. Proposal for visual grading criteria of structural timber of sweet chestnut from Spain. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 71, 529–532 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-013-0705-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-013-0705-4