Prediction of Mechanical Properties of Hardwood Species Using the Longitudinal Vibration Acoustic Method

Abstract

Acoustic test methods such as longitudinal vibration have been developed to predict the elastic properties of wood. However, attention has not been shifted to using this method to predict other mechanical properties, especially on Nigeria's preferred, and lesser-used wood species. Thus, we further investigate relationships among mechanical and acoustic properties of selected hardwood species with a view of predicting the mechanical properties of wood from acoustic parameters. Clear wood samples (324) of 20 by 20 by 20 mm3 were collected axially from Albizia adianthifolia, Gmelina arborea, Delonix regia, and Boscia anguistifolia trees, and conditioned before testing. The longitudinal vibration method was adopted to test for the dynamic (acoustic) parameters and properties (fundamental frequency, damping factor, dynamic modulus of elasticity, sound velocity, specific elastic modulus, radiation coefficient, acoustic conversion efficiency, acoustic impedance) while the universal testing machine was used to test for the mechanical properties (static modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, maximum compression strength parallel to grain). The damping factor, dynamic modulus of elasticity, and acoustic impedance were the best acoustic parameters that significantly correlated with the static modulus of elasticity (−0.57, 0.81, 0.76), modulus of rupture −0.64, 0.82, 0.85) and maximum compression strength parallel to grain (−0.52, 0.78, 0.84), respectively. There was a significant difference in the mechanical properties with respect to species, thus A. adianthifolia and G. arborea were mechanically better than D. regia and B. anguistifolia for construction or structural purposes. This study revealed that additional new acoustic measures are suitable for inferring mechanical wood properties.