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Variations in physical and mechanical properties between tension and opposite wood from three tropical rainforest species

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Abstract

Growth strains were measured in situ in nine trees of three species from a French Guiana tropical rainforest in a clearly active verticality restoration process. The aim was to detect tension wood within the samples. Wood specimens were cut in the vicinity of the growth strain measurements in order to determine the microfibril angle and some mechanical and physical properties. As suspected, tensile growth strain was much higher in tension wood zones, as shown by the slightly higher longitudinal modulus of elasticity. Conversely, tension wood showed reduced compression strength. Longitudinal shrinkage was much higher in tension wood than in opposite wood. Clear relationships between the microfibril angle and longitudinal properties were noted in comparison (i) with those observed in gymnosperm compression wood and (ii) with expected relationships from the organization of wood fibres cell wall structure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan

    Julien Ruelle & Hiroyuki Yamamoto

  2. UMR EcoFoG, Campus Agronomique, BP 709, 97387, Kourou Cedex, French Guiana

    Jacques Beauchêne & Bernard Thibaut

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  1. Julien Ruelle
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  2. Jacques Beauchêne
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  3. Hiroyuki Yamamoto
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  4. Bernard Thibaut
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Correspondence to Julien Ruelle.

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Ruelle, J., Beauchêne, J., Yamamoto, H. et al. Variations in physical and mechanical properties between tension and opposite wood from three tropical rainforest species. Wood Sci Technol 45, 339–357 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0323-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0323-9

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