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Characterisation and categorisation of the diversity in viscoelastic vibrational properties between 98 wood types

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Abstract

Context

Increased knowledge on diversity in wood properties would have implications both for fundamental research and for promoting a diversification of uses as material.

Aims

The objective is to contribute to overcoming the critical lack of data on the diversity of wood dynamic mechanical/viscoelastic vibrational properties by testing lesser known species and categorising sources of variability.

Methods

Air-dry axial specific dynamic modulus of elasticity (E′/γ) and damping coefficient (tanδ) were measured on a wide sampling (1,792 specimens) of 98 wood types from 79 species. An experimental device and protocol was designed for conducting systematic (i.e. rapid and reproducible) characterisations.

Results

Diversity at the specimens’ level corroborates the “standard” relationship between tanδ and E′/γ, which is discussed in terms of orientation of wood elements and of chemical composition. Diversity at the species level is expressed on the basis of results for normal heartwood, with specific gravity (γ) ranging from 0.2 to 1.3. Axial E′/γ ranges from 9 to 32 GPa and tanδ from 4 × 10−3 to 19 × 10−3. Properties distribution follows a continuum, but with group characteristics. The lowest values of tanδ are only found in certain tropical hardwoods. Results can also suggest alternative species for musical instruments making.

Conclusion

The variations in specific gravity, in stiffness or in “viscosity” appear to be predominantly linked to different levels of diversity: between species or between wood types (reaction wood or taxonomy-related differences in heartwood extractives).

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank P. Cabrolier and J. Dlouhá for conducting some tests; P. Détienne (CIRAD xylarium) for wood identification; C. Daigremont and S. Lotte (CIRAD workshop) and instrument makers, for providing wood material; and N. Poidevin for testing “new” woods for violin bows.

Funding

This work has been supported by CNRS and CIRAD in France and by JSPS in Japan.

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Author notes

  1. Iris Brémaud

    Present address: Wood Laboratory, EMPA, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Mécanique et Génie Civil (LMGC), CNRS, Université Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, cc 048, 34095, Montpellier cedex 5, France

    Iris Brémaud, Yves El Kaïm, Bernard Thibaut & Joseph Gril

  2. Laboratory of Forest Resources Circulatory System, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan

    Iris Brémaud & Kazuya Minato

  3. UPR Production et Valorisation des Bois Tropicaux et Méditerranéens, CIRAD, BP 5035, 34398, Montpellier cedex 5, France

    Daniel Guibal

  4. UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, CNRS, BP 316-97379, Kourou cedex, French Guyana, France

    Bernard Thibaut

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  1. Iris Brémaud
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  2. Yves El Kaïm
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  4. Kazuya Minato
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  6. Joseph Gril
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iris Brémaud.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Barry Alan Gardiner

Contribution of co-authors

I.B. designed and performed research and wrote the paper; Y.E.K. realized test device II and control/processing software; D.G. did physical tests; K.M. initiated the methodology; K.M., B.T. and J.G. supervised the work and edited the paper.

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Brémaud, I., El Kaïm, Y., Guibal, D. et al. Characterisation and categorisation of the diversity in viscoelastic vibrational properties between 98 wood types. Annals of Forest Science 69, 373–386 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0166-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-011-0166-z

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