Abstract
Structural lumber needs to be stiff, straight, and distortion free to comply with existing international standards. In Sweden there are set standards/certificates [?, ?] that are used to grade structural lumber. As pricing of structural lumber follows the structural lumber grade, there should be large economic benefits from using only saw logs that yield lumber with an acceptable structural grade. In recent years, acoustic technology has been considered as a potential technology for sorting saw logs into classes of modulus of elasticity. The current study, undertaken at a sawmill in central Sweden, explored the agreement between the dynamic modulus of elasticity of 828 Norway spruce (Picea abies) saw logs and structural lumber grade for ca. 2800 pieces of lumber sawn from these logs. The study showed a large span in modulus of elasticity (ca. 9–24 GPa) of logs. A fair agreement was observed between the modulus of elasticity of saw logs (representing two common diameter classes/sawing patterns) and the structural grade of the sawn lumber (according to Anon (1995), Anon (2000)). Thus, by excluding logs with low modulus of elasticity, sawmills could avoid production of low quality/low value structural lumber.
Zusammenfassung
Nach internationalen Normen muss Bauschnittholz eine gewisse Steifigkeit aufweisen und gerade sowie verformungsfrei sein. In Schweden werden Normen/Zertifikate [?, ?] zur Sortierung von Bauschnittholz verwendet. Da die Sortierklasse des Schnittholzes den Preis beeinflusst, ist zu erwarten, dass sich durch die ausschliessliche Verwendung von Stammabschnitten, die Schnittholz akzeptabler Güteklassen liefern, erhebliche wirtschaftliche Nutzen erzielen lassen. In den letzten Jahren wurden akustische Verfahren als mögliche Technologie zur Einteilung von Sägerundholz in E-Modul-Klassen erachtet. Die vorliegende Studie wurde in einem Sägewerk in Zentralschweden durchgeführt. Untersucht wurde die Übereinstimmung zwischen dem dynamischen E-Modul von 828 Fichtenholzabschnitten (Picea abies) und 2800 daraus eingeschnittenen Schnitthölzern. Dabei wies der E-Modul der Stammabschnitte eine grosse Streuweite auf (ca. 9–24 GPa). Der E-Modul von Sägerundholz (zwei herkömmliche Durchmesserklassen/Schnittbilder) stimmte mit den Sortierklassen des Schnittholzes (sortiert nach Anon (1995), Anon (2000)) ziemlich gut überein. Dementsprechend könnten Sägewerke eine Produktion von minderwertigem Schnittholz geringer Qualität vermeiden, wenn Stammabschnitte mit geringem E-Modul ausgeschlossen werden.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.References
Albert DJ, Clark RL, Dickson RL, Walker JCF (2002) Using acoustics to sort radiata pine pulp logs according to fibre characteristics and paper properties. Int Forest Rev 4:12–20
Anon (1987) VMR 1-87, Grading instruction for saw logs. The timber measurement council, Märsta Sweden
Anon (1995) SS-EN 519 Structural timber – Grading – Requirements for machine strength graded timber and grading machines. Swedish Standards Institute, SIS Förlag, Stockholm
Anon (1999) VMR 1-99, Grading instructions for saw logs. The timber measurement council, Märsta Sweden
Anon (2000) SPCR 078 Regler för certifiering av maskinellt hållfasthetsorterat konstruktionsvirke. Swedish national testing and research institute, http://www.sp.se/cert/cert_prod/spcr/spcr078.pdf
Beall FC (2002) Overview of the use of ultrasonic technologies in research on wood properties. Wood Sci Technol 36(3):197–212
Boström L (1999) Machine stress grading – Comparison of four different systems. Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, Report 1994:49, p 47
Huang C, Lindström H, Nakada R, Ralston J (2003) Cell wall structure and wood properties determined by acoustics – a selective review. Holz Roh- Werkst 61(5):321–335
Johansson CJ, Brundin J, Gruber R (1992) Stress grading of Swedish and German timber. A comparison of machine stress grading and three visual grading systems. Swedish National Testing and Research Institute Building Technology, Report 23, p 120
Jäppinen A (2000) Automatic sorting of sawlogs by grade. Doctoral thesis. The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Management and Products, ISSN 1401-6230
Kennedy RW (1995) Coniferous wood quality in the future: concerns and strategies. Wood Sci Technol 29(4):321–338
Kliger R, Johansson G, Bäckström M (2003) Dynamic measuring of modulus of elasticity on logs – a possible way to sort logs. Division of Steel and Timber Structures. Report 2003:5, p 16
Kyrkjeedie PA, Lindström H, Thörnqvist T (1994) Konstruktionsvirke från grov gran – deformation och kvalitet hos reglar. Department of Forest-Industry-Market studies, Report 38, ISSN 0248-379X, p 78
Larsson D, Ohlsson M, Perstorper M, Brundin J (1998) Mechanical properties of sawn timber from Norway spruce. Holz Roh- Werkst 56(5):331–338
Lindström H, Harris P, Nakada R (2002) Methods for measuring stiffness of young trees. Holz Roh- Werkst 60(5):165–174
Lindström H, Evans R, Reale M (2005) Implications of selecting tree clones with high modulus of elasticity. New Zeal J Forest Sci 35(1):50–58
Nylinder P (1961) Influence of tree features and wood properties on basic density and buoyancy. II. Norway spruce (Picea abies). Royal school of Forestry, Department of forest products, Report 36, p 150
Oja J, Grundberg S, Grönlund A (2001) Predicting the stiffness of sawn products by X-ray scanning of Norway spruce saw logs. Scand J Forest Res 16(1):88–96
Oja J, Grundberg S, Fredriksson J, Berg P (2004) Automatic grading of sawlogs: A comparison between X-ray scanning, optical three-dimensional scanning and combinations of both methods. Scand J Forest Res 19(1):89–95
Perstorper M (1994) Quality of structural timber- end-user requirement and performance control. Doctoral thesis, Chalmers University of Technology, Division of steel and timber structures. ISSN 0534-0411
Roos A, Flinkman M, Jäppinen A, Lönner G, Warensjö M (2001) Production strategies in the Swedish softwood sawmilling industry. Forest Policy Econ 3:189–197
SAS Institute (1999) SAS STAT Ver. 8 for Windows. SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC, USA
Tsehaye A, Buchanan AH, Walker JCF (2000) Selecting trees for structural timber. Holz Roh- Werkst 58(3):162–167
Tsehaye A, Buchanan AH, Walker JCF (2000) Sorting logs using acoustics. Wood Sci Technol 34(4):337–334
Xu P, Walker JCF (2004) Stiffness gradients in radiata pine trees. Wood Sci Technol 38(1):1–9
Öhman M (1999) Correspondences between manually estimated compression wood in Norway spruce and the warp of the sawn timber. Holz Roh- Werkst 57(5):391–396
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Edlund, J., Lindström, H., Nilsson, F. et al. Modulus of elasticity of Norway spruce saw logs vs. structural lumber grade. Holz Roh Werkst 64, 273–279 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-005-0091-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-005-0091-7