Compressive behavior and NDT correlations for chestnut wood (Castanea sativa Mill.)

Abstract

The goal of the present work consists in the characterization of the mechanical behavior of chestnut wood under compression perpendicular to the grain. After a review of the problems usually involved in characterizing timber under this type of loading, a mechanical test was set-up. The timber specimens used in the testing program were divided in two groups: (a) new chestnut wood (NCW), which has never been used structurally even so it comes from logs that could be used as such; and (b) old chestnut wood (OCW), which were already used in structural elements from ancient constructions (date and precise origin unknown). The mechanical behavior of the specimens is discussed taking into account the orientation of the annual growth rings along the direction of the load. Correlations between mechanical properties and NDT (ultrasonic pulse velocity and drilling resistance) are also provided, taking into account the density of the wood.