Bending and compression strength of Portuguese Maritime pine small-diameter poles

Portuguese pine forests frequently have high density due to the large number of young trees, which are maintained in the stands due to the high costs of thinning operations and the lack of financial return provided by the markets available for small-diameter poles. With this problem in mind, a natio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest products journal 2009-04, Vol.59 (4), p.23-28
Main Authors: Morgado, T.F.M, Rodrigues, J, Machado, J.S, Dias, A.M.P.G, Cruz, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bend strength
bending strength
construction materials
correlation
Correlation analysis
diameter
Forest & brush fires
Forest products
Forest products industry
knots
logs
Mechanical properties
modulus of elasticity
Pine
Pinus pinaster
product grading
Properties
stand density
Studies
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Summary:Portuguese pine forests frequently have high density due to the large number of young trees, which are maintained in the stands due to the high costs of thinning operations and the lack of financial return provided by the markets available for small-diameter poles. With this problem in mind, a national project was launched to investigate the use of Maritime pine small-diameter poles in structural applications. It is believed that this utilization could promote stand thinning operations by providing extra income to forest owners. Poles for the study were collected in an interior central region of Portugal and visually graded according to European standard EN1310. Poles were then tested (bending and compression) following European standard EN14251. The results obtained are presented and discussed along with the results obtained for round timber from other wood species and for Maritime pine strength graded structural timber with rectangular cross section. Considering future development of national strength grading standards (based on the results of this project), some correlations are presented between wood features and mechanical properties and between bending strength and stiffness. Good correlations were obtained between bending strength, density, and local modulus of elasticity (MOE). A significant difference in the bending strength between round and rectangular cross sections was observed but not for MOE. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0015-7473
2376-9637