Conjoint effect of moisture content and density on resistance and rigidity of Pinus elliottii wood

Abstract

The use of wood to structures is affected by moisture content and density. On same wood grade have different moisture and densities. To use structural woods with security would determinate the strength and elasticity to conditions considering the variations of moisture contents and densities. The present study looked for to establish an equation that facilitates the classification of the resistance of the wood of Pinus elliottii Engelm for different moisture content and several specific masses. The control of the moisture was made by the accomplishment of the masses of the proof bodies and related to the respective resistance and rigidity metrics. The apparent specific mass presented better correlation with the mechanical properties than the moisture content, indicating that this characteristic is more important for classification of the resistance wood than the moisture of wood. The drying of wood up to moisture content range between 10% and 20% increase the resistance about 45% and rigidity to 39%. The model than fit better to represent resistance and moisture content and density relationship was log (MOR) = 2,25 + 1,31γ -1,50U. To relationship between regidy and moisture content and density the better model was log (MOE) = 3,94 + 1.86γ – 2,99U2