Skip to main content

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Application of the fractometer for crushing strength: juvenile-mature wood demarcation in Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioids)

Abstract

The fractometer is a device that breaks a radial increment core along the fiber for the measurement of crushing strength, which is a direct wood quality indicator for structural lumber. In this study, the crushing strength of Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides Hay) trees using the fractometer was investigated and the data were used to determine the position of demarcation between juvenile and mature wood. Segmented regression and variance component analysis were used to estimate the demarcation position. With increasing cambium age, the core wood improves the crushing strength in the outer wood area. Within-tree variations in wood properties were greater than between-tree variations. In this experiment, the position of demarcation between juvenile and mature wood occurred at an approximate distance of 10.8cm to 13.2cm from the pith at about 18–20 years of cambium age.

References

  1. Kasal B (2003) Semi-destructive method for in-situ evaluation of compressive strength of wood structural members. Forest Prod J 53:55–58

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wang SY, Chiu CM, Lin CJ (2003) Application of the drilling resistance method for annual ring characteristics evaluation of Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides Hay.) trees grown in different thinning and pruning treatments. J Wood Sci 49:116–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Wang SY, Lin CJ, Chiu CM (2005) Evaluation of wood quality of Taiwania trees grown with different thinning and pruning treatments using the ultrasonic-wave method. Wood Fiber Sci 37:192–200

    Google Scholar 

  4. Wang SY, Lin CJ, Chiu CM, Chen JH, Yang TH (2005) Dynamic modulus of elasticity and bending properties of Taiwania young trees grown with different thinning and pruning treatments. J Wood Sci 51:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Lin CJ, Wang SY, Chiu CM (2004) Assessment of crushing strength in Taiwania using the Fractormeter. Taiwan Forest Prod Indus 23:23–31

    Google Scholar 

  6. Matheny NP, Clark JR, Attewell D, Hillery K, Graham AW, Posner G (1999) Assessment of fracture moment and fracture angle in 25 tree species in the United States using the Fractometer. J Arboriculture 25:18–23

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dolwin JA (1996) Evaluation of internal defects in trees and the legal implications. Arboricultural J 20:173–178

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mattheck CG, Breloer H, Bethge KA, Albrecht WA, Zipse AW (1995) Use of the Fractormeter to determine the strength of wood with uncipient decay. J Arboriculture 21:105–112

    Google Scholar 

  9. Zobel BJ, Sprague JR (1998) Juvenile wood in forest trees. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York pp 26–38

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lee CH, Wang SY (1996) A new technique for the demarcation between juvenile and mature wood in Cryptomeria japonica. IAWA J 17:125–131

    Google Scholar 

  11. Chiu CM, Lee CH (1997) The validity of a new technique differentiating between juvenile and mature wood in conifers. Taiwan J Forest Sci 12:387–392

    Google Scholar 

  12. Zobel BJ, van Buijtenen JP (1989) Wood variation its cause and control. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, New York, pp 21–22, 26–38, 88–89

    Google Scholar 

  13. Yang KC (1987) Wood properties, wood qualities and silvicultural treatments. Q J Chinese Forestry 20:7–28

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bao FC, Jiang ZH, Jiang XM, Lu XX, Luo XQ, Zhang SY (2001) Differences in wood properties between juvenile wood and mature wood in 10 species grown China. Wood Sci Tech 35:363–375

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Watanabe H, Tsutsumi J, Matsumoto T, Ohta S (1964) Studies on juvenile wood. II. On distribution of specific compressive strength and specific modulus of elasticity in stem of Sugi tree. Mokuzai Gakkaishi 10:125–130

    Google Scholar 

  16. Haygreen JG, Bowyer JL (1982) Forest products and wood science — an introduction. Iowa State University Press, Ames, pp 109–110

    Google Scholar 

  17. Bendtsen BA, Senft J (1986) Mechanical and anatomical properties in individual growth rings of plantation-grown eastern cottonwood and loblolly pine. Wood Fiber Sci 18:23–38

    Google Scholar 

  18. Zhu J, Nakano T, Tokumoto M, Takeda T (2000) Variation of tensile strength with annual rings for lumber from the Japanese larch. J Wood Sci 46:284–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Zhu J, Nakano T, Hirakawa Y (2000) Effects of radial growth rate on selected indices for juvenile and mature wood of Japanese larch. J Wood Sci 46:417–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Bhat KM, Priya PB, Rugmini P (2001) Characterization of juvenile wood in Teak. Wood Sci Technol 34:517–532

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Evans JW, Senft JF, Green DW (2000) Juvenile wood effect in red alder: analysis of physical and mechanical data to delineate juvenile and mature wood zones. Forest Prod J 50:75–87

    Google Scholar 

  22. Tasissa G, Burkhart HE (1998) Juvenile-mature wood demarcation in loblolly pine trees. Wood Fiber Sci 30:119–127

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Wang SY, Lin CJ, Chiu CM (2003) Effects of thinning and pruning on knots and lumber recovery of Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides Hay.) planted in the Alu-Kuei area. J Wood Sci 49:444–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Chiu CM, Lin CJ, Wang SY (2005) Tracheid length and microfibril angle of immature Taiwania grown with different thinning and pruning treatments. Wood Fiber Sci (in press)

  25. Yang JC, Lee CH, Chiu CM (1998) Precision of estimating Luanta fir specific gravity by a few outer growth rings. Taiwan J Forest Sci 13:251–257

    Google Scholar 

  26. Wang SY, Chen KN (1992) Effects of plantation spacing on tracheid lengths, annual-ring widths, and percentages of latewood and heartwood of Taiwan-grown Japanese cedar. Mokuzai Gakkaishi 38:645–656

    Google Scholar 

  27. Chuang ST, Wang SY (2001) Evaluation of standing tree quality of Japanese cedar grown with different spacing using stress-wave and ultrasonic-wave methods. J Wood Sci 47:245–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Wang SY, Chiu CM (1993) Wood properties of Japanese cedar originated by seed and vegetative reproduction in Taiwan VI. Compression and bending properties. Mokuzai Gakkaishi 39:1128–1139

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cheng-Jung Lin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chiu, CM., Wang, SY., Lin, CJ. et al. Application of the fractometer for crushing strength: juvenile-mature wood demarcation in Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioids). J Wood Sci 52, 9–14 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-005-0723-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-005-0723-x

Key words