In-grade Lumber Testing of Chinese Fir plantation

摘要

In China, design properties are traditionally derived from test data on small clear wood samples. As this method does not directly evaluate the effect of growth characteristics, such as knots, on the mechanical properties of a full-size member, conservative assumptions are necessary when developing design values. To support the efficient utilization of China’s wood resource, China has initiated a research program to apply in-grade tests to dimension lumber from Chinese domestic species. In this paper, a preliminary in-grade lumber testing program on plantation Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), the most popular plantation species, is presented. Sampling procedures used to produce the test sample and preliminary results from bending test on 45 by 90mm dimension lumber are discussed.