Longitudinal Residual Strain of Eucalyptus Clone in Location Subject to Action of Winds

Abstract

During development and growth of trees, mechanical stresses are generated in order to keep it balanced and upright in response to various environmental factors. These efforts are known as growth stresses and can vary in distribution and intensity across different species of the genus Eucalyptus. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the longitudinal residual strains (LRS) and its correlations with tree growth features, physical and mechanical properties of the Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis hybrid clones. Trees were 30 and 35 months old, located in forest plantations of Vale do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais, in areas subject to wind action, with damping effect and even the breaking of these trees. The LRS measured with extensometer was on average 0.086mm and when associated with other characteristics of the wood, the correlations were not significant. The growth characteristics of trees, basic density, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), and absorbed work were not enough to explain the LRS behavior.