Exploratory study on the bending performance of thermo-hydro-mechanically densified Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) at elevated temperatures

ABSTRACT

Thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) densification is a well-known wood modification procedure for improving the mechanical properties of low-density wood species, but its performance at elevated temperatures is not well understood. The objective of this study was to determine the bending behaviour of densified Scots pine at elevated temperatures. A total of 48 specimens (200 mm (longitudinonal) × 20 mm (radial) × 20 mm (tangential)) were tested to investigate the bending performance under constant temperatures at 25, 50, 125 and 175°C, respectively. It was found that the modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of both un-densified and densified pine decreased with increasing temperature. However, the densified wood exhibited more brittle shear failure but retained higher MOR and MOE than the untreated specimens treated at the same temperature level. In general, the results demonstrate that densification can be a potentially effective method to retain the mechanical properties of wood at elevated temperatures, thereby having a potential maintain the load-bearing capacity during and after fire.

KEYWORDS:

• Densification
• fire safety
• timber construction
• wood

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This project J4-50132 has received funding from the Slovenia Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS). The FRISSBE project is funded by the European Union‘s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation under Grant Agreement No. 952395.