Effect of ring shakes on mechanical properties of chestnut wood from a Greek coppice forest

Abstract

Measurements of several mechanical and physical properties were carried out to detect possible variations between ring shaken and non-ring shaken logs or between different areas of wood from the same log (i.e., ring shaken log). Mature wood from the ring shake area had lower axial compression and hardness strength compared to mature wood away from ring shakes. Wood from ring shakes area had lower tangential swelling and precisely at the position of the shakes, the wood had a higher coefficient of anisotropy than the surrounding wood. The juvenile wood's density from the ring shaken logs was higher compared to that of mature wood, as well as proportional limit and hardness strength. From comparisons between ring shaken and non-ring shaken log properties, the following results were determined: mature wood from any area (independent of the presence of shakes) of ring shaken logs had lower Modulus of Rupture, proportional limits, modulus of elasticity under static bending, axial compression, toughness, and hardness strength compared to mature wood from non-ring shaken logs. Moreover, lower radial swelling was found for ring shaken logs. The juvenile wood's density from ring shaken logs was higher compared either to mature or to juvenile wood from non-ring shaken logs.