Francisco Arriaga

Vibration method for grading of large cross-section coniferous timber species

Abstract The non-destructive testing (NDT) of timber using the longitudinal vibration method is based on the natural frequency of wood which is in relation to its quality. In the present paper, the suitability of this tool is investigated and the results of grading 395 pieces are presented. Structural timber of Radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), and Laricio pine [Pinus nigra ssp. salzmannii (Dunal) Franco] from Spanish sources were investigated. The specimens were tested for bending according to the European standard EN 408 (2003) and the values of strength and stiffness were compared with the results estimated by means of NDT. The vibration equipment applied permits the measurement of the longitudinal natural frequency and mass of the specimen, and then the density and the dynamic modulus of elasticity can be calculated. There is a strong relationship between the static modulus of elasticity obtained from the bending test and the dynamic modulus of elasticity obtained by the NDT technique. There is an acceptable relationship between modulus of rupture and dynamic modulus of elasticity if the visual defects (knot sizes) are taken into account. Acoustic measurements have become widely acceptable, and they have great potential for stress grading of coniferous timber.

Determination of the mechanical properties of radiata pine timber by means of longitudinal and transverse vibration methods

Abstract Bending properties have been determined by mechanical testing [modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR)] and by means of longitudinal (L) and transverse (T) vibration nondestructive methods on 150 sawn timber pieces of Pinus radiata D. Don, with the dimensions of 80×120 mm cross-section and 2500 mm long, from Catalonia, Spain. The fundamental vibration frequency was measured by recording the sound produced by hitting the piece in L and T directions, and this signal was analyzed by fast Fourier transform sound analyzer. The dynamic MOE was obtained for both procedures and compared with static MOE and MOR. The notion of concentrated knot diameter ratio (CKDR) was introduced to improve the prediction of MOR. CKDR gives better results when this parameter is referred to the central portion of piece length. Both methods (L and T frequencies) have similar accuracy in prediction of mechanical properties, but the first one is simpler and has some practical advantages. The timber graded with this nondestructive method offers better results than the visual grading rules for the same output.

Influence of timber moisture content on wave time-of-flight and longitudinal natural frequency in coniferous species for different instruments

Abstract Non-destructive techniques (NDTs) are well suited for rapid estimation of timber properties, but NDT results are affected by several factors, the most important of which is the moisture content (MC) of wood. Much of the research in this context was limited to ultrasound measurement of a few wood species, mainly to Norway spruce. The present paper investigates the MC influence on the NDT results obtained by instruments based on ultrasound (two devices), impact stress waves (one device) and longitudinal vibrations (two devices). A hundred large cross-section specimens of four timber species were tested, namely: radiata pine, Scots pine, Salzmann pine and maritime pine. The influence of MC on velocity was found to be stronger below the fiber saturation point (FSP) than above FSP. MC adjustment factors below FSP are proposed for these wood species.

Simplified Model for Strength Assessment of Timber Beams Joined by Bonded Plates

AbstractThis paper presents a simplified method of analysis and design for repair using bonded rigid plates of timber beams with localized damage. This method assesses the load-bearing capacity of the connection between plate and timber and proposes two failure modes: shear stresses at the bonding interface and in the timber piece. An experimental campaign was developed to verify the theoretical model, which in this paper is limited to the problem of bending moment transfer. Ten specimens of Pinus radiata D. Don were joined with bonded-in plates and 10 with laterally bonded ones, after which they were tested for bending. Two epoxy formulations were used as adhesive and glass fiber–reinforced plastic (GFRP) plates for reinforcements. Tests with different anchorage lengths were developed to establish a relationship with load-carrying capacity. For an anchorage length approximately longer than twice the depth of the plate, failure was not located at the connection. There was reasonable agreement between the ...

Influence of length on acoustic time-of-flight (ToF) measurement in built-in structures of Norway spruce timber

Abstract Time-of-flight (ToF) measurements were conducted on twelve 76×226-mm2 in cross-section, 4.52-m long specimens of Norway spruce timber pieces from a dismantled 19th-century building in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). Two commercially available acoustic devices were used: the USLab ultrasound device with conical 22 and 45 kHz sensors and the MicroSecond Timer (MST) stress wave device with spike sensors. ToF were obtained for the full-length (4.52 m) specimens in an end-to-end arrangement and for lengths of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 4 m on the same surface and on opposite surfaces. The differences between the velocities obtained from end-to-end and semi-direct measurements were less than 4.5%. Apparent velocity dependence on length was observed in short-distance measurements. This could be corrected by determining a time lag (tL) from a linear regression between the ToF and the distance. Estimation of the modulus of elasticity (MOE) from the dynamic MOE (MOEdyn) is acceptable (r2=0.45–0.69) depending on the measurement procedure, and the best results for in situ timber are obtained in edge surface velocity. Although modulus of rupture (MOR) estimation from MOEdyn improves slightly when knottiness is included, it has low predictive capacity.

In-situ density estimation by four nondestructive techniques on Norway spruce from built-in wood structures

Abstract Needle penetration resistance (NPR), screw withdrawal resistance (SWR), core drilling (CD) and drilling chips extraction (DCE) are nondestructive and semi-destructive techniques used to estimate density in timber structures. In most of the previous studies, these techniques were tested in clear sawn timber and clear specimens. The goal of the present paper is to study the relationship between density and these techniques by means of five different devices in whole pieces of timber from built-in engineering structures, which are from 12 4.5-m long structural timber joists of Norway spruce from a 19th century building in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). Although determination coefficients (R2) for density estimation models were lower than those from clear timber, the results obtained confirmed that these four techniques are suitable for in-situ density estimation of woods in buildings. The best results were obtained by CD (the bigger the bit, the higher the correlation), followed by DCE, and SWR. The worst correlation was found for NPR devices, but the results could be probably improved with more measurements.

Timber Beam Bearing Reinforcement with GFRP Glued-In Plates: Strength and Hydrothermal Effects

AbstractThis paper presents a simplified method of analysis and design for the repair of deteriorated timber beam ends using glass fiber–reinforced product (GFRP) bonded rigid plates. It assesses the load-bearing capacity of the plate-timber connection and assumes two failure modes: shear stresses at the bonding interface and in the timber piece. An experimental method was developed to verify the theoretical model for bending moment and shear force transfer. Ten short span beam specimens of Pinus radiata D. Don were spliced with bonded-in plates in one end, and they were tested by bending with different anchorage lengths to establish a relationship with load-carrying capacity. Furthermore, the effect of temperature (−20 to 50°C) and moisture content (9–30%) changes were analyzed in two groups of six short beam specimens and in bonding shear test specimens using two different epoxy formulations. The theoretical model predicts conservative values of load-carrying capacity. Temperature and moisture changes c...

Influence of length and sensor positioning on acoustic time-of-flight (ToF) measurement in structural timber

Abstract The mechanical properties of timber can be estimated from wave propagation velocity by measuring wave time-of-flight (ToF). However, a time-lag complicates the measurements, which produces an apparent velocity dependency on length and this species and instrument dependent property is also influenced by knottiness. This research is dealing with time-lag determination by different sensor positioning in situ ToF measurements. ToF longitudinal measurements were conducted on 120 90 mm×140 mm specimens of the coniferous species radiata pine, Scots pine, laricio pine and maritime pine. The following commercially available acoustic devices were used: Sylvatest Duo, USLab, and Microsecond Timer. The sensors were arranged for the measurement types “end-to-end”, “on the same surface” and “on opposite surfaces”. ToF data were obtained from the full-length (4 m) specimens and then from the same specimens shortened to 3 m, 2 m and 1 m in length. The in situ procedures of ToF are applicable for a reliable length determination independently from the time-lag (tL) and velocity. The differences observed by end-to-end measurements, with respect to velocity, are below 4.4%. A velocity correction factor can be deduced for each instrument, which is independent of species.

Dimensional and morphological analysis of the detritus from six European wood boring insects

Detailed morphological and dimensional analysis of the detritus deposited in the galleries of woodboring insects was performed for some of the most common xylophagous insect larvae in timber construction in Spain. The samples studied belong to six species of four common families of borers: Cerambycidae, Anobiidae, Curculionidae and Lyctidae. The samples were provided by Spanish and German companies and laboratories. The detritus was assessed for size, shape, and colour and, for different species, was found to show morphological and dimensional differences, enabling better and faster identification of these destructive agents. Frass shape and colour assessment together with statistical dimensional data of the six species are presented. A predictive function based on length and width variables of the detritus is proposed, using multivariate discriminant analysis methodology. This function has been proven to be more than 78% effective in tests of the model.

THE PERCENTILES RATIO 20TH TO 5TH OF BENDING STRENGTH AND STIFFNESS DISTRIBUTION IN THE CASE OF SPANISH SOFTWOODS

A group of databases making a total of approximately 9300 sawn timber pieces from Spanish coniferous species, tested according to European standards and visually graded mainly according Spanish standards were analyzed. The percentiles ratio 20th/5th of bending strength, modulus of elasticity and density distribution were obtained for different combinations of species and visual stress grade. The Eurocode 5 proposes this percentile ratio by a coefficient kfi which is used to determine the design values of mechanical properties in fire situation. The percentile ratios obtained were compared with the specified value in Eurocode 5 for solid timber (kfi = 1,25). In lower grades of Spanish coniferous timber, this value was overly conservative. A value of kfi of 1,4 seems to be more adequate for the case of the bending modulus of elasticity and 1,4 to 1,5 for the bending strength. It is noted that, in the case of the upper grades, this value should be of 1,3; close to the Eurocode proposal. Furthermore, in the case of density, the value should be of 1,1; hence lower than suggested in the code.