Mechanical Properties of Small Clear Specimens and Visually Graded Lumber from Living and Spruce Budworm-Killed Balsam Fir

Authors

  • Douglas P. Barnes
  • Steven A. Sinclair
  • Robert L. Govett

Keywords:

Balsam fir, spruce budworm, mechanical properties, dimension lumber, static bending, compression perpendicular to the grain

Abstract

Small clear specimens from living balsam fir and from spruce budworm-killed balsam fir dead 3 months, 12 months, and 22 months were tested in bending and compression perpendicular to the grain. Results indicated that modulus of rupture (MOR) of specimens from budworm-killed trees dead 3 months or more was significantly lower than MOR of specimens from living trees. Modulus of elasticity (MOE) appeared to be less sensitive to changes in budworm-killed material than MOR. Stress at the proportional limit for compression perpendicular to the grain was significantly lower for specimens from trees dead 22 months than for specimens from living trees. Both MOE and MOR in bending were determined for visually graded nominal 2- by 4-inch lumber from living and spruce budworm-killed balsam fir dead 12 months and 22 months. Average MOE values for living balsam fir were 1.274 x 106 psi, 1.217 x 106 psi, and 1.175 x 106 psi for Construction, Standard and Utility grades, respectively. Average MOR values for the same grades of living material were 4,699 psi, 4,684 psi, and 4,352 psi, respectively. Average MOE and MOR for Utility grade lumber from both spruce budworm-killed categories were not significantly different from the average MOE and MOR for living balsam fir. Statistical analyses of the MOE and MOR data for Construction and Standard grades of budworm-killed lumber were not performed due to the small sample sizes.

References

American Society for Testing and Materials. 1981. Testing small clear specimens of timber. ASTM D 143-52. Philadelphia, PA.nAmerican Society for Testing and Materials. 1981b. Static tests of timbers in structural sizes. ASTM D 198-76. Philadelphia, PA.nAmerican Society for Testing and Materials. 1982. Evaluating allowable properties for grades of structural lumber. ASTM D 2915-74. Philadelphia, PA.nAnthony, R., R. W. Erickson, and J. Haygreen. 1973. Drying and strength characteristics of predrilled balsam fir studs. Paper No. 8360 in the Scientific Journal of the Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Minnesota.nBelyea, R. M. 1952. Death and deterioration of balsam fir weakened by spruce budworm defoliation in Ontario. The Can. Ent.84(11):325-335.nBendtsen, B. A. 1974. Specific gravity and mechanical properties of black, red, and white spruce and balsam fir. USDA Forest Serv. Res. Pap. FPL 237. Madison, WI.nBowyer, J. L., S. A. Sinclair, P. V. Sibal, and R. L. Govett. 1982. Balsam fir—A potential new source of softwood lumber. For. Prod. J.32(1):53-58.nFereshtehkhou, S. 1982. The properties of pulp and paper from spruce budworm-killed balsam fir. M.S. thesis, University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Products, St. Paul, MN.nGovett, R. L. 1982. The potential for increased utilization of spruce budworm threatened, damaged, or killed balsam fir in the production of dimension lumber. Ph.D. thesis, University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Products, St. Paul, MN.nHatton, J. V. 1983. Making the most of budworm-killed wood. In Proc. of the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, Technical Section, 69th Annual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec.nHughes, M. T. 1981. Waferboard and flakeboard from healthy and spruce budworm-killed balsam fir. M.S. thesis, University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Products, St. Paul, MN.nHuffman, D. R. 1977. High-temperature drying effect on the bending strength of spruce-pine-fir joists. For. Prod. J.27(3):55-57.nKruskal, W. H., and W. A. Wallis. 1952. Use of ranks in one-criterion variance analysis. J. Amer. Statist. Assoc.47:583-621.nKucera, D., and P. Orr. 1983. Spruce budworm conditions in the United States 1982. CANUSA Newsletter, No. 27, March 1983:1-3.nMarkwardt, L. S., and T. R. C. Wilson. 1935. Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States. USDA Tech. Bull. 479.nMinerowicz, E. A., D. A. Gauvin, M. Kagalwala, M. K. Hill, and J. M. Genco. 1982. Pulping budworm-killed balsam fir. LSA Bulletin 786, University of Maine, Orono, ME.nNorthern Hardwood and Pine Manufacturers Association, Inc. 1979. Standard grading rules. 1979 (rev.), Green Bay, WI.nPettitt, A. N., and M. A. Stephens. 1977. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit statistic with discrete and grouped data. Technometrics19(2):205-210.nSinclair, S. A., and R. L. Govett. 1983. Production and distribution of balsam fir lumber in eastern North America. Forestry Chronicle59(6):128-131.nSinclair, S. A., T. E. McLain, and G. Ifju. 1979. Toughness of sap-stained southern pine. Wood Fiber11(1):66-72.nSteel, R. G. D., and J. H. Torrie. 1960. Principles and procedures of statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York.nTukey, J. W. 1977. Exploratory data analysis. Addison-Wesley Pub. Co., Reading, MA.n

Downloads

Published

2007-06-27

Issue

Number 1 / January 1985

Section

Research Contributions

License

The copyright of an article published in Wood and Fiber Science is transferred to the Society of Wood Science and Technology (for U. S. Government employees: to the extent transferable), effective if and when the article is accepted for publication. This transfer grants the Society of Wood Science and Technology permission to republish all or any part of the article in any form, e.g., reprints for sale, microfiche, proceedings, etc. However, the authors reserve the following as set forth in the Copyright Law:

1. All proprietary rights other than copyright, such as patent rights.

2. The right to grant or refuse permission to third parties to republish all or part of the article or translations thereof. In the case of whole articles, such third parties must obtain Society of Wood Science and Technology written permission as well. However, the Society may grant rights with respect to Journal issues as a whole.

3. The right to use all or part of this article in future works of their own, such as lectures, press releases, reviews, text books, or reprint books.