Strength class of minor conifer species, as estimated from log acoustic measurements, small-clear data and knowledge of wood property variation

Gil-Moreno, David; Ridley-Ellis, Daniel; McLean, J Paul

Abstract

It is well known that wood properties vary from species to species. Additionally, trees grow wood in response to their requirement to grow in a certain environment. Therefore, timber properties also vary by region, by forest practice, and by the changing circumstances for individual trees as they age. This paper presents results from the early stages of a PhD project that is investigating the growth and mechanical properties of timber from noble fir (Abies procera), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and western red cedar (Thuja plicata) grown in Great Britain. While full laboratory tests on structural-size timbers and clear wood samples have not yet been realised, the use of portable acoustic tools on standing trees and logs can help to predict grade assignments of timber from each species using prior knowledge of the likely extent and sources of variation in wood
properties.

Citation

Gil-Moreno, D., Ridley-Ellis, D., & McLean, J. P. (2014). Strength class of minor conifer species, as estimated from log acoustic measurements, small-clear data and knowledge of wood property variation. In K. Schober (Ed.), COST Action FP1004 "Experimental Research with Timber" (214-218)

• Conference Name: Experimental Research with Timber: Cost action FP1004
• Start Date: May 21, 2014
• End Date: May 23, 2014
• Publication Date: 2014-05
• Deposit Date: May 27, 2015
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 214-218
• Book Title: COST Action FP1004 "Experimental Research with Timber"
• ISBN: 1 85790 183 5
• Keywords: Wood properties; timber; mechanical properties; noble fir (Abies procera); western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla); Norway spruce (Picea abies); western red cedar (Thujaplicata)
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/8225
• Publisher URL: http://costfp1004.holz.wzw.tum.de/