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New directions for NDT in forestry

Mackenzie, Robin; Smith, Sean; Fairfield, Charles A

Authors

Robin Mackenzie

Sean Smith

Charles A Fairfield



Abstract

The need for improved timber quality assessment is important to the forestry industry. Scotland's harvestable softwood population will reach the peak of its 50 year plantation cycle in 2020. Current mechanical grading results in waste and the underlying theory behind typical timber condition assessment is limited. Such methods of quality control are only applicable after sawing, resulting in a high rejection rate for engineering use. Increasing the yield of higher-strength timber from this crop is vital to the sector's economic security. Emphasis falls on identifying high-strength timber before it reaches the sawmill and incurs the costs of felling, recovery, transportation and processing. This research summarises NDT methods and introduces the authors' work on the use of acoustic testing (based on time-of-flight, resonant frequencies, and damping ratios) to assess timber quality. Recommendations for future applications of NDT in forestry are made and include: density, taper, static moduli of elasticity and rupture, micro fibril angle, grain, and knot area and volume ratios. Ultimately, the research will develop new predictive algorithms accounting for these non-visible characteristics of standing trees, thus improving the accuracy of field-based measurements.

Citation

Mackenzie, R., Smith, S., & Fairfield, C. A. (2005). New directions for NDT in forestry. Insight - Non-Destructive Testing & Condition Monitoring, 47(7), 416-420. https://doi.org/10.1784/insi.2005.47.7.416

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date 2005-07
Deposit Date Mar 14, 2008
Print ISSN 1354-2575
Publisher British Institute of Non-destructive Testing
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 47
Issue 7
Pages 416-420
DOI https://doi.org/10.1784/insi.2005.47.7.416
Keywords Timber; Quality assessment; NDT; Time of flight; Resonant frequency; Damping ratio; Future applications;
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/2026
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1784/insi.2005.47.7.416