Work

Non-Destructive Evaluation of Plantation Eucalyptus nitens Logs and Recovered Samples to Analyse the Stiffness Property

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Eucalyptus nitens (H. Deane & Maiden) Maiden is a widely planted hardwood species in Australia, particularly in Tasmania, where it occupies approximately 168,000 ha. Although primarily managed for pulp production, the species is attracting interest for sawn and engineered wood applications. Previous evaluations of its properties have relied on destructive testing; however, non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques provide a viable alternative for industrial applications. This study examined the use of acoustic-based NDE to assess plantation-grown E. nitens logs sourced from two Tasmanian harvesting sites, focusing on the relationship between dynamic modulus of elasticity (DMOE), static MOE, and modulus of rupture (MOR) across radial positions from pith to bark. The results indicated that core samples exhibited stronger correlations with static MOE and MOR compared with middle and outer samples. DMOE consistently overestimated static MOE by 10.81% and 24.66% at the two sites, with variation evident across radial positions. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of acoustic NDE for evaluating wood stiffness, highlighting the importance of sample location within logs.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app152010973

Authors: Navneet Singh Sirswal, Gregory Nolan, Nathan Kotlarewski, Assaad Taoum

Institutions: University of Tasmania, Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood

Language: English

Topic: Wood Treatment and Properties

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896

Funder: University of Tasmania