Skip to main content

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Nondestructive measurement of cross-sectional shape of a tree trunk

Abstract

To evaluate windthrow resistance with respect to stem breakage, a nondestructive method for determining the shape of trunk cross sections was developed. In this method, the coordinates of multiple gauge points set on the perimeter of a trunk are calculated by measuring the distances between them. The shape between the gauge points is generated with the use of a profile gauge placed between them. Measurement tests were conducted using profile gauges with lengths of 300 and 900 mm on model specimens with four shape patterns and four different diameters. The accuracy of the estimation was verified by comparing the section modulus calculated for the generated image and for the photograph. The average ratio of section modulus (generated/photo) for all specimens was 0.994, which indicates that the proposed method is highly accurate. The section moduli of hollow trunks can be evaluated using the profile method together with the drill resistance technique on the condition that 26% of the trunk diameter could be drilled without skew.

References

  1. Peters M, Ossenbruggen P, Shigo A (1985) Cracking and failure behavior models of defective balsam fir trees. Holzforschung 39:125–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Mattheck C, Kubler H (1995) Wood — the internal optimization of trees. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  3. Koizumi A, Hirai T (2006) Evaluation of the section modulus for tree-stem cross sections of irregular shape. J Wood Sci 52(3): 213–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Habermehl A (1982) A new non-destructive method for determining internal wood condition and decay in living trees 1. Arboric J 6:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Watanabe N (2000) Instruments available for tree diagnosis in the field (in Japanese). J Tree Health 4:23–32

    Google Scholar 

  6. Arita K, Mitani S, Sakai H, Tomikawa Y (1986) Inspection of internal decay in wooden poles using ultrasonic wave (in Japanese). Wood Ind. 41:370–375

    Google Scholar 

  7. Iizuka Y (2007) Wood-decay diagnosis system (in Japanese). Tree Forest Health 11:135–139

    Google Scholar 

  8. Rinn F, Schweingruber F-H, Schär E (1996) Resistograph and X-ray density charts of wood: comparative evaluation of drill resistance profiles and X-ray density charts of different wood species. Holzforschung 50:303–311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Yada S (2001) Inspection and repair of exterior wood (in Japanese). Wood Ind 56:452–457

    Google Scholar 

  10. Fujii Y, Fujiwara Y, Harada M, Kigawa R, Komine Y, Kawanobe W (2009) Evaluation of insect attack in wooden historic buildings using drill resistance method (in Japanese). Hozon Kagaku 48:215–222

    Google Scholar 

  11. Yamashita K, Nagao H, Kato H, Ido H (2006) Estimating variations in wood density by drilling resistance (in Japanese). Bull FFPRI 5:61–68

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Akio Koizumi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Koizumi, A., Ikeda, K., Sawata, K. et al. Nondestructive measurement of cross-sectional shape of a tree trunk. J Wood Sci 57, 276–281 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-011-1174-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-011-1174-1

Key words