Properties of UK-Grown Sitka Spruce: Extent and Sources of Variation.

Moore, John; Lyon, Andrew J; Ridley-Ellis, Daniel; Gardiner, Barry A

Properties of UK-Grown Sitka Spruce: Extent and Sources of Variation.

Moore, John; Lyon, Andrew J; Ridley-Ellis, Daniel; Gardiner, Barry A

Authors

John Moore

Andrew J Lyon

Dr Dan Ridley-Ellis D.Ridley-Ellis@napier.ac.uk
Associate Professor

Barry A Gardiner

Abstract

Structural timber produced from Sitka spruce plantations in the UK typically achieves the requirements for the C16 strength class. However, very little is known about the variability of this plantation resource, or the factors that contribute to this variability. A study to benchmark the properties of the current resource found that there was a considerable amount of variation in wood properties between sites as well as between trees within a site. This benchmarking study has been complemented by studies which have investigated the impacts of genetics, precommercial thinning and rotation length on timber properties. In these studies, measurements of stress wave velocity have been made on standing trees, freshly-felled logs and sawn timber. Knowledge gained should assist in better utilisation of the current resource as well as identifying
management practices that will lead to an improved future resource for structural applications.

Citation

Moore, J., Lyon, A. J., Ridley-Ellis, D., & Gardiner, B. A. (2008). Properties of UK-Grown Sitka Spruce: Extent and Sources of Variation. Timber Engineering,

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	2008-06
Deposit Date	Apr 6, 2009
Publicly Available Date	Apr 6, 2009
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Keywords	Forestry; Sitka spruce; Timber; Wood; Strength; NDT; Stress waves;
Public URL	http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/2528
Contract Date	Apr 6, 2009