Resumen de Relationships between microfibril angle, modulus od elasticity and compressive strength in "Eucalyptus" wood
Paulo Ricardo Gherardi Hein, José Tarcísio Lima
Many traits are known to be important in determining the value of Eucalyptus wood as sawn timber.The commercial importance of the microfi bril angle (MFA) for wood quality is well establishedfor a range of softwoods, but is less clear for hardwood species. For instance, the relationships of MFAwith wood stiffness and compressive strength are unknown in Eucalyptus. Therefore, the aim of thisstudy was to evaluate the correlation between MFA and the modulus of elasticity (Ec0,m) in compressionparallel to grain and compressive strength (Fc0,k) using juvenile wood of Eucalyptus grandis fromfast-growing plantations. The correlation between wood stiffness and compressive strength was high(0.91). The cellulose microfi bril angle presented a correlation of -0.67 with wood stiffness and of-0.52 with compressive strength in Eucalyptus juvenile wood. MFA was found to be important in determiningthe mechanical behaviour of wood and appears to be a useful parameter to indicate woodstiffness and strength in juvenile Eucalyptus from short-rotation plantations.
