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Determination of dynamic elastic moduli and shear moduli of aged wood by means of ultrasonic devices

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Abstract

Due to ecological and environmental factors, re-using aged wood is becoming more and more important, also in applications where mechanical strength plays a central role. The aim of this study was to examine specific mechanical parameters of naturally aged and dried wood and to better understand the influence of aging on the elastic behaviour of wood. To this aim, measurements on boards and on small, clear wood specimens were carried out. Ultrasound velocities of longitudinal and, in some cases, of transversal waves were measured to determine dynamic elastic moduli and shear moduli. The measurements were performed on structural timber of aged Norway spruce (aged wood) and compared with specimens of recently cut and kiln dried timber of the same species (recent wood) as a reference with comparable density properties and average annual ring width. The measurements revealed higher values of dynamic elastic modulus for aged wood in the longitudinal and radial directions, but no significant difference was found in the tangential direction or in the shear moduli. It is supposed that the difference is more likely a consequence of variability in densities and the structure parameters (annual ring structure, microfibril angle, growth conditions) rather than a consequence of the wood age. The relation between the dynamic elastic modulus in the longitudinal direction and wood density was nearly the same for aged and recent wood specimens, so with increased prudence, grading methods developed for recent wood can also be applied for aged wood.

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  1. http://www.woodwisdom.net/mm_files/do_849/GRADEWOOD_ProjectOverview.pdf

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks go to Prof. Dr. Dr. Habil. Claus-Thomas Bues and Björn Günther (Dresden University of Technology) for dating the aged samples. The authors would also like to thank Chaletbau Matti (Saanen, Switzerland) for providing aged wood for the study and Melanie Wetzig for her contribution in the measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wood Physics, Institute for Building Materials, ETH Zurich, Schafmattstrasse 6, HIF, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland

    Katalin Kránitz & Peter Niemz

  2. Institute of Construction and Infrastructure Management, Chair of Infrastructure Management, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 15, HIL, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland

    Markus Deublein

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  1. Katalin Kránitz
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Correspondence to Katalin Kránitz.

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Kránitz, K., Deublein, M. & Niemz, P. Determination of dynamic elastic moduli and shear moduli of aged wood by means of ultrasonic devices. Mater Struct 47, 925–936 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-013-0103-8

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