Improving in-elastic curvature of Beech and Ash wood by treatments, for uses in Laminated sternposts

Ebrahimi, Gh.1 Khazaian, Abol2.

ABSTRACT Fabricating laminated sternpost for wooden vessels requires lamina which would bend over forms with a wide range of curvatures. Untreated wood of most species will not serve this purpose and making use of thin lamina would have economical limitations too. In this study, effects of treatments with urea and Ammonia solutions on Ash and Beech wood (both species native to Iran) were compared. In comparison, relationship between radius of curvature and bending strain and measured ultimate tension and compression strains were also utilized. Maximum strains data in tension and compression parallel to grain were collected by testing clear specimens, prepared out of end-matched test materials. Matched clear specimens were treated, then bended on forms with different radii and corresponding measurements were made. Predicted minimum radius of form in terms of thickness of lamina through theoretical relation, was compared with that of experimentally measured ones, to see effects of the two treatments and their differences if there is any. Percentages of reduction in form and curvature radii have indicated no significant discrepancies between two treatments. But reductions in form and curvature radii, due to treatment effects, were significant and have shown the procedures applicable at commercial level. BACKGROUND a- Application Solid sternsposts (Fig. 1) are fabricated single piece of logs for constructing wooden vessels (Ebrahimi, et.al 1982). The process of making solid sternspost then is a wasteful one, since shaping this member requires so sequential cuttings. With declining logs diameter, raw materials suitable for sternpost have a scarcity horizon. This has provided reasons for accepting laminated sternpost in standard rules (Det Norske Veritas, 1971 and Lloyds Register, 1979). An alternative to meet demand on sternpost would be adaptation of laminating technology which will eliminate dimensional limitation on raw materials to a considerable extend (Ebrahimi, Gh. 1993) and let the manufacturers to produce engineered and reliable sternposts. Sternpost is an important member in the framed structure of wooden vessels and it does have some sharp curvatures as are required for its function in the back part of structure. b- Theory and Method Principals of bending theory (popov. 1976) can be applied on wood, like as any other materials. Therefore linear relationship between stress and strain could be used to study bending properties of wood. Likewise between radius of curvature, maximum strains and thickness of wood and form radius, a predicting relation can be obtained (Ebrahimi, Gh. et.al. 1996). For theoretical analysis, one can refer to figure 2, side view of a wood bending machine (Wood Bending Handbook. 1970). The cylinder (form) of machine rotates about its axis and the wood sample placed in the machine would bend around cylinder. Both ends of sample are fixed and a metal strip supports its outer face to prevent rupture due to ultimate tensile strain. Section 1-1 of the figure shows bended end of sample and the unbended part of specimen is located between sections 2-2 and 3-3.
1 2

Professor, University of Tehran and Univ. of Gorgan. Wood products engineering and instructor, University of Tehran and Univ. of Gorgan.

For deriving corresponding relation in wood bending processes, friction between sample and metal strip is neglected. Thickness of metal strip is small and so is its strain, this could be neglected as well, but all other assumptions in bending theory would hold. Based on assumptions, if uniform stress, f, is applied to the unbended part of sample, corresponding compressive force at the end of sample will be: F=f (b.t) (1)

b is the width and t is thickness of sample. F is transfered to metal strip, but since related friction is neglected, then F will have no variation along the strip. For analysis if force through the thickness, a thin layer of curved part, at a distance r+x from the center of curvature of specimen is considered. Thus

r + x L' , L=L (1+e) = R L r + x L(1 + e) = = 1+e R L

(2)

(2.1)

can be written. L is the length of layer before bending. R is the radius of curvature. The inside edge of sample where x=0 is under maximum compressive strain, that is

r = 1+ e c R
and at the outer edge of specimen, tensile strain will have its highest value, then

(3)

r+t = 1+ e t R
By dividing eq.(4) to eq.(3) and after simplification, eq.(5) is obtained

(4)

t e t ec = 1 + ec r

(5)

Eq.(5) indicates that if ultimate tensile and compressive strains of a species are known, with a given thickness,t, threshold radius of form for bending piece could be predicted. MATERIAL AND METHOD In order to make use of eq.(5), defect free and end-matched test materials out of Ash and Beech lumber were randomly chosen and air-dried to an average moisture content of 10%. To avoid any residual shrinkage stresses, test materials were let to dry in a shelter for about 3-month. Matched specimens were prepared out of test materials of each species to conduct tensile and compression tests for determining corresponding ultimate strains. These tests were made on an instron testing machine (model 1186). Tensile specimens had dimension of 50 * 50 *450 mm and that of compressive 25*25*50 mm. For conducting tension test, 10 specimens and for the compression 15 specimens were prepared. These specimens were from untreated materials. Deflections for calculating strains were measured by extonsiameter over 50 millimeters gage-

length. The accuracy of measurements was within 0.001 millimeter. Average stress and strain data were summarized in table 1 and 2. Table 1- Stress and strain data of compression parallel to grain. mean standard mean crushing dev. ultimate stress strain Kg /mm 5.043 5.805
2

species

MC av. %

standard dev.

Ash Beech

6.45 7.05

0.74633

mm/mm 0.024 0.014

0.0049 0.0008

species

MC av. %

Table 2- Stress and strain data of tension parallel to grain. mean standard mean max. dev. max. stress strain Kg/mm 5.73 6.70
2

standard dev.

mm/mm 0.979 0.698 0.0054 0.0048 0.0017 0.002

Ash Beech

5.60 5.64

PREDICTING BENDING RADIUS Critical radius of form and that of species was predicted by eq.(5) and eq.(4) respectively (table 3). It should be mentioned that ultimate tensile and compressive strains data (parallel to grain) were not made available through testing treated samples. These strains data from untreated materials obviously will set the predicting equations to foresee threshold size of radius in a worst manner. Table 3. predicted critical radius of form + curvature of control specimens (20 mm thick). species thickness critical critical mtm mrm mRm Ash 20 664 680 Beech 20 1049 1064

SPECIMENS PREPARATION Out of clear test materials of each species, specimens were cut. Thickness of Ash specimens varied from 20 to 21.8 mm, with an average of 20.62 mm. Thickness Variation in Beech specimens, was 21.10 to 21.90 mm(21.41 mm on the average). All specimens had a length of 100 cm and for each treatment 10 matched samples with one possible replacement, were prepared. TREATING WITH UREA Commercial powder of urea, counting 46.5 percent Nitrogen, was used to make solution which will have highest penetration in samples. Such a solution was obtained with 15 percent concentration of urea. All specimens of each species were pressure treated in a full-cell process. After treatment, samples were steamed and immediately bended on form (Fig. 3) upon removing from banbary. Collected data of this experiment are presented in tables 4 and 5. TREATMENT WITH AMMONIA

Another set of matched specimens of both species were treated with Ammonia solution of 25 percent concentration. The process was carried in an autoclave. Then treated samples were bended (Fig. 3) for measuring safe radius of form and also radius of individual specimens curvature. This set of experimental data are shown in tables 6 and 7. Table 4. Bending data of Ash samples treated with urea. R cur. av.MC form R *% r t mm mm 10.24 7.18 11.20 10.98 11.25 11.04 11.02 11.40 11.95 150 150 150 140 140 140 120 120 120 170.20 170.60 170 160.11 161 160.5 140.5 140.86 141 8.43 8.28 8.5 7.96 7.67 7.83 6.83 6.75 6.71

sample. No.

thick. t(mm)

observations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

20.20 20.60 20 20.11 21 20.50 20.60 20.86 21

N.F(AC) TF(AC) TF(AC) CF CF CF C C C

* average MC before treatment. N.F(AC), no failure (allowable curvature). IF(AC), incipient failure (allowable curvature). CF, crushing failure started. C(AC) crushing started (Allowable curvature). C, Crushing observed. TF, Tensile failure started. Table 5. Bending data of Beech samples treated with urea. av.MC form Cur. R *% r R t mm mm 15.8 361.60 320 16.43 15.6 341.80 320 10.86 15.7 341.80 320 10.83 15.4 331.90 310 10.44 15.6 331.12 310 11.13 15.6 331.12 310 11.33 15.2 321.12 300 11.12 14.8 321.70 300 10.85 14.9 321.60 300 11.03

sample. no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

thick. t mm 21.60 21.80 21.70 21.90 21.120 21.20 21.12 21.70 21.60

observations

NF NF NF NF NF NF TF(AC) CF C

sample. no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

thick t mm 20 20 20.80 20.80 20.60 20.90 21 20.45 21.80

Table 6. Bending data of Ash samples treated with Ammonia av.MC form cur. R *% r R t mm mm 8 160 140 10.11 8 160 140 9.47 7.73 160.80 140 11.02 7.25 150.80 130 9.52 7.31 150.60 130 9.75 7.22 150.90 130 9.83 7.71 141 120 10.19 6.87 140.45 120 10.30 6.50 141.80 120 9.38

observations

NF NF MF CF CF CF CF TF CFC

sample. no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

thick. t mm 21.50 21.70 21.20 20.80 21.55 21.30 21.10 21.35 21.30

Table 7. Bending data of Beech samples treated with Ammonia observations av.MC form cur. R t % r R mm mm NF 14.95 321.50 300 9.36 NF 14.82 321.70 300 11.15 CF 15.15 321.20 300 9.81 CF 14.94 310.80 290 10.38 C(AC) 16.46 311.55 290 10.18 C(AC) 14.62 311.30 290 9.50 C 14.27 301.10 280 9.45 C 14.12 301.35 280 9.60 C 14.15 301.30 280 9.23 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Data in table 1 indicate that Ash can withstand maximum compression strain parallel to grain 1.71 times more than Beech. This comparison on maximum tensile strain in same direction shows that Ash is superior (table 2) rather than Beech by a Factor of 1.21. Referring to data in tables 1,2, Ash is stronger in compression parallel to grain when compared with its tensile strength parallel to grain and corresponding factor is 4.44. Ultimate tensile strain parallel to grain in Beech is less than compression strain in the same direction, by a factor of 2.92. Eqs. 4 and 5 indicate the discrepancy between these two ultimate strains which control the radius of form and curvature as well. This is true since in wood bending process, convex side of specimen would undergo tensile strain and the other side of it will be under compressive strain parallel to grain. The lower straining capacity of wood in these two types, actually controls radius of form and curvature. In treatment for softening the wood, if incompressible liquids are used, occurrence of tensile or compressive failures in specimens will have no relationship with axial strains. The failure is due to influence of liquid which fills up the empty spaces in wood and creates forces perpendicular to grain, under bending stress. This type of failure does have early occurrence. Comparison of control and treated specimens of each species in terms of form radius through predicted (eq.5) and experimental values (tables 4 to 7), would indicate that treatment will improve the susceptibility of specimens in bending.

Estimated form radii (table 3) for Ash as compared with experimental (150, 140, 120 mm) were reduced by urea treatment, 22.6, 21 and 18 percent respectively. These reductions by Ammonia solution were calculated 21, 19.6 and 18 percent for the same species. For Beech, predicted form radii (table 3) in comparison with that of experimental (320, 310, 300 mm) by urea treatment were reduced by 30.50, 29.50 and 28.60 percent respectively. These comparisons on experimental results (300, 290, 280 mm) indicated 28.60, 27.60 and 26.70 percent reduction in form radii, through treatment with Ammonia solution. This treatment on Beech wood was more effective than on Ash as improvement in bending property indicates. Estimated radius of curvature for control specimens with theoretical relation, reduced significantly when compared with its average measured value (tables 4-7). Reductions of curvature radii for urea treated samples of Ash (on form radii of 150, 140, 120 mm) were calculated 25, 23.60 and 20.70 percent respectively. These percentage for specimens of Ash treated with Ammonia (on form radii of 140, 130, 120mm) were 23.50, 22.20 and 20.70. Radius of curvature for control specimens of Beech which was estimated (table 3), by urea treatment reduced as compared with its average measured value (table 5). These reductions, regarding form radii, were calculated 30.20, 29.20 and 28.30 percents. Considering reduction in form radius, no significant difference was observed between the treatments (urea and Ammonia) applied on Ash species. This result is due to percentages of comparison that are almost the same. Discrepancy of the two treatments in terms of radius of curvature is negligible as well. Urea treatment on Beech lowered form radius about 2% (1.9%) more than Ammonia, which is not considered significant. Between the effectiveness of these two treatments applied on Ash and Beech species, no significant differences were observed in this experiment. These results were obtained through comparing form and curvature radii. Therefore selecting the treatment depends on availability of corresponding material. LITERATURE CITED 1- Anon. 1970. Wood Bending Handbook. Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough (pp. 109). 2- Anon. 1971. Rules forth the construction and classification of wooden ships. DET Norske Veritas. (pp. 80). 3- Anon. 1979. Rules and Regulations for the classification of Yachts and small crafts. part 2. LLoyd,s Register of shipping (pp. 32). 4- Ebrahimi, Gh.et.al 1982. Research Report on possibility of replacing imported wood by domestic species in craft industry. Irans Forest Service, Bulletin no. 5 (pp. 40). 5- -----------. 1996 Comparison of steam treatment effect on Ash and Beech wood, through measuring From and Bending curvatures. Scientific Journal of Agricultural sciences and Natural Resources. vol. 3. no. 4. (in Persian). Gorgan Uni. 6- Ebrahimi, Gh. 1993. Improving wood uses in fishing Vessels construction. Research Project Report, Irans Fishery Dept. (pp. 243, in Persian). 7- Kollmann, F.P. and Cote, W.A. 1968. Bending of solid wood. Springer-verlag. 8- Popov, E.P. 1976. Pure Bending of Beams.chap. chap. 5(119-160). Mechanics of Materials. Second edition. PrenticeHall, Inc.