Influence of stiffness related to the C40 strength class of the hardwood group established by the Brazilian standard in the design of timber structures

The Brazilian standard ABNT 7190 (1997) establishes the strength classes C20, C30, C40 and C60 for the proper framework of the different wood types in the group of hardwoods. Associated with the strength class, which is based on the compressive strength characteristic value parallel to the fibers (fc0,k), the standard stipulates the respective values representing the stiffness (Ec0), with 19500 MPa being the reference value for the class C40, essential variables in structural design. For being the C40 class is the one with the greatest amplitude (20 MPa), it is possible that the value 19500 MPa is not the best representation of stiffness. This work aimed to verify the representativeness the stiffness value established by the Brazilian standard for C40 wood. The result obtained from the average confidence interval indicates the value of 14110 MPa as being the most representative, which may imply structures that are supposedly more rigid than they really are.

Addition of sugarcane bagasse for the production of particleboards bonded with urea-formaldehyde and polyurethane resins

The present study deals with a production of pine particleboards using the sugarcane bagasse content and using castor-oil based bicomponent polyurethane resin and urea-formaldehyde resin. The influence of incorporation of sugarcane bagasse on the physical and mechanical properties of the composites was evaluated. The particleboards were produced according Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 14810, but performance requirements have been analyzed using Brazilian and international standards, as well. Treatment 2, using PU resin, were considered the best treatment using pine residue and sugarcane bagasse, presenting physical properties values 60% lower and mechanical properties 65% higher on average when compared with panel without sugarcane bagasse, indicating the good performance of sugarcane incorporation and the possibility of its use on commercial purpose for thermal and acoustic insulation. The addition of sugarcane bagasse improved physical and mechanical properties of particleboards when compared to panels manufactured from pine wood particles only. Statistical analysis indicated that moisture content and bagasse content were significant, enhancing properties when compared with reference treatments.

Physical and mechanical characterization of Planchonella Pachycarpa wood species for use in structural purpose

This research aimed to characterize the wood species Goiabão (Planchonella pachycarpa), following the precepts set forth in the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 7190, as well as to evaluate the possibility of estimating physical and mechanical properties, using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) as a function of apparent density, and also to estimate the stiffness properties as a function of the respective strength property. The physical and mechanical properties were considered adequate for the use of this wood for structural purposes, being classified in class C40. According to the results of the regression models, it is possible to estimate the tensile strength parallel to the fibers as a function of the apparent density. It was also possible to estimate the longitudinal elastic modulus in the compression parallel to the fibers as a function of the compressive strength parallel to the fibers.