Comparison of the Mechanical Properties of Branch and Stem Wood for Three Species
Keywords:
Branch wood, stem wood, compression parallel to the grain, bending strength, modulus of elasticityAbstract
Branch wood could be used in new added-value products as an alternative to stem wood provided that its characteristics are known and understood. This article compares the modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and compression strength of maple (Acer spp.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and the compression strength of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) branch wood with stem wood. The mechanical tests showed that the MOE and compression strength of maple branch wood were slightly lower than those of stem wood, maple MOR was slightly higher for branch wood, and beech compression strength was similar for branch and stem wood. However, the MOR and compression strength of Scots pine branch wood were approximately one-half of those of stem wood, whereas the MOE was approximately one-third. Branch wood had a higher density than corresponding stem wood, except for Scots pine. No correlation was observed between branch density and mechanical strength except for MOR.References
Adamopoulos S, Passialis C, Voulgaridis E (2007) Strength properties of juvenile and mature wood in black locust (Robinia Pseudoacacia L.). Wood Fiber Sci 39(2):241 - 249.nASTM (1997) Annual book of ASTM standards. Section 4. Vol. 04.10. Wood. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA.nBannan MV (1965) The length, tangential diameter and length/width ratio of conifer tracheids. Can J Bot 43(8):967-984.nBao FC, Jiang ZH, Jiang XM, Lux X, Luo XQ, Zhang SY (2001) Differences in wood properties between juvenile wood and mature wood in 10 species grown in China. Wood Sci Technol 35(4):363-375.nBowyer JL, Shmulsky R, Haygreen JG (2003) Forest products and wood science. An introduction. 4th ed. Blackwell Publishing Iowa State Press, Ames, IA. 554 pp.nBrunden MN (1964) Specific gravity and fiber length in crown-formed and stem-formed wood. Forest Prod J 14(1):13-17.nBS 373 (1957) Methods of testing small clear specimens. British Standard Institution, London, UK.nCionca M, Badescu L, Gurau L, Zeleniuc O, Olarescu A (2006a) Eco-design approach. A research regarding the potential use of branches in new wooden products. Poster presentation. Pages 107-110 in Proc. International Conference on Environmentally Compatible Forest Products: ECOWOOD, 20-22 Sept. 2006, Fernando Pessoa University, Porto, Portugal.nCionca M, Badescu L, Zeleniuc O, Gurau L, Olarescu A (2006b) Wooden branches. A new approach in furniture design. Pages 50-57 in Proc. International Science Conference to the 10th Anniversary of FEUT Foundation: Trends of Woodworking Forest and Environmental and Their Applications in Manufacturing Processes, 5-7 Sept. 2006, Technical University, Zvolen, Slovakia.nFegel AC (1941) Comparative anatomy and varying physical properties of trunk, branch and root wood in certain Northeastern trees. Bulletin of the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University. Tech Publ 55(14):5-20.nFilipovici J (1965) Studiul lemnului (Wood Science) Vol. II. Editura didactică şi pedagogică, Bucureşti. Technical Printhouse, Bucharest, Romania. In Romanian.nGurau L, Cionca M, Zeleniuc O (2006) Physical, mechanical properties and chemical composition of branch wood, as a secondary resource, compared to wood from stem. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov 13(48): 297-304.nHakkila P (1989) Utilisation of residual forest biomass. Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany. 568 pp.nHilton M (2001) Design for sustainable development: Success factors. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. 127 pp.nHöster HR, Liese W (1966) Über das vorkommen von reaktiongewebe in wurzeln und ästen der dikotyledonen. Holzforschung 20(3):80-90. In German.nISO 313 (1975) Wood. Determination of ultimate strength in static bending. International Organization for Standardization, Genève.nISO 3131 (1975) Wood. Determination of density. International Organization for Standardization, Genève.nISO 3349 (1975) Wood. Determination of modulus of elasticity in static bending. International Organization for Standardization, Genève.nISO 3787 (1976) Wood. Testing in compression parallel to grain. International Organization for Standardization, Genève.nKollmann FFP, Côté WA. (1968) Principles of wood science and technology. Vol. I. Solid wood. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany. 592 pp.nKucera LJ, Philipson WR (1977) Growth eccentricity and reaction anatomy in branchwood of Drimys winteri and five native New Zealand trees. NZ J Bot 15:517-524.nLarson P, Kretschmann DE, Clark AI, Isebrands JG (2001) Formation and properties of juvenile wood in southern pines. A synopsis. Forest Products Laboratory. General Technical Report FPL-GTR-129. http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documents/fplgtr/fplgtr129.pdf'>http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documents/fplgtr/fplgtr129.pdfnLavers GM (1983) The strength properties of timber. Building Research Establishment Report. Garston, Watford, UK.nManwiller FG (1974) Fiber lengths in stems and branches of small hardwoods on southern pine sites. Wood Sci 7(2):130-132.nManwiller FG (1979) Wood and bark specific gravity of small-diameter pine-site hardwoods in the south. Wood Sci 11:234-240.nOrsler RJ, Newman PL, Laidlaw RA (1972) Pulping of British-grown softwoods. VIII. A study of juvenile, mature and top wood in a large Scots pine tree. Holzforschung 26:173-180.nPazdrowski W, Splawa-Neyman S (2003) Stage growth of trees and its effect on selected properties of Norway spruce wood. Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities, 6(2). http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume6/issue2/forestry/art-02.html (15 Aug. 2007). http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume6/issue2/forestry/art-02.html'>http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume6/issue2/forestry/art-02.htmlnPearson RG (1988) Compressive properties of clear and knotty loblolly pine juvenile wood. Forest Prod J 38(7/8):15-22.nPhilips DR, Clark A, Taras MA (1976) Wood and bark properties of southern pine branches. Wood Sci 8(3):164-169.nTaylor FW (1977) A note on the relationship between branch- and stemwood properties of selected hardwoods growing in the mid-South. Wood Fiber Sci 8(4):257-261.nTsoumis G (1968) Wood as raw material. 1st ed. Pergamon Press Ltd., London, UK. 276 pp.nVanin SI (1953) Studiul lemnului (Wood science). Tehnica Bucuresti. Technical Printhouse, Bucharest, Romania. 527 pp. In Romanian.nVurdu H, Bensend DW (1979) Specific gravity and fiber length in European black alder roots, branches and stems. Wood Sci 12(2):103-105.nVurdu H, Bensend DW (1980) Proportions and types of cells in stems, branches and roots of European black alder (Alnus glutinosa L. Gaertn.). Wood Sci 13(1):36-40.nZobel BJ, Sprague JR (1998) Juvenile wood in forest trees in TE Timell, ed. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany. State University of New York, New York, NY. 300 pp.n
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
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.
