Prediction of tensile strength of sawn timber: definitions and performance of indicating properties based on surface laser scanning and dynamic excitation

Abstract The presence of wood irregularities such as knots are decisive for the mechanical properties of sawn timber, and efficient utilisation of timber requires methods by which grade determining properties can be predicted with high accuracy. In the glulam and sawmilling industries today, there is a potential and a need for more accurate prediction methods. This paper concerns the performance of a set of indicating properties calculated by means of data from surface laser scanning, dynamic excitation and X-ray scanning, the latter used to obtain boards’ average density. A total number of 967 boards of Norway spruce originating from Finland, Norway and Sweden were used to determine statistical relationships between the indicating properties and the grade determining properties used to grade sawn timber into T-classes. Results show that the indicating properties give coefficients of determination to tensile strength as high as 0.70. Furthermore, results also show that laser scanning of boards with sawn surface finish give basis for almost as accurate grading as what scanning of planed boards do. The results imply that more accurate grading of timber into T-classes is possible by application of a new set of indicating properties. This paper is part one of a series of two papers. In the second paper, two models to derive settings and calculate yield in different strength classes using the indicating properties presented herein are compared and discussed.