ANALYSIS OF SOUND SPEED IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION AT REFERENCE MOISTURE CONTENT (w = 12 %) IN SAWMILL ASSORTMENTS (FAGUS SYLVATICA, L.)

Abstract

This paper explores the analysis of sound speeds in the longitudinal direction and their reduction to the reference moisture content w = 12 %. The sound speed cw was determined with Sylvatest Duo device. Moisture content of beech sawmill assortments (round timber: N = 16, logs: N = 2 × 16, structural boards: N = 54) in the range of 12 – 72 % was measured. For the analysis purposes, the sound speed was converted to reference conditions (c12, uref = 12%). A second-degree polynomial (parabola) with a regression equation of the form: c// = 5649 - 27,371 × w + 0.0735 × w2 was used to convert cw to c12, and correction of measured and calculated values was used as well. The sound speeds c12 in sawmill assortments (c12,round, c12,log, c12,board) were evaluated by linear dependences. Dependence was not confirmed for c12,round and c12,board1 (r = 0.168), in contrast for c12,round and c12,log2 the dependence is statistically very significant (r = 0.634). The results of testing showed that the most suitable procedure for predicting quality of structural timber is the first step round timber – log2, the second step: log2 - board2. More exact results of the construction boards were obtained from log2 than from log1. The sound speed is used in the calculation of dynamic modulus of elasticity (Edyn). EN 408 mentions the possibility of using dynamic modulus of elasticity as an alternative method in predicting the quality of structural timber.