• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 1996

This study was performed to investigate the feasibility of using sonic stress-wave technique in the longitudinal direction for the assessment of incipient decay of radiata pine wood. Decayed bending specimens by Tyromyces palustris and Gloeophyllum trabeum for varoious periods were tested nondestructively using stress-wave technique in the longitudinal direction and destructively. Decay detection, quantitative assessment of decay, and the prediction of residual strength of decayed wood with less than five percent weight loss can be feasible using stress-wave parameters (wave velocity, wave impedance, stress-wave elasticity) measured by stress-wave technique in the longitudinal direction and their percent reduction due to decay.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.54-59
• /
• 1995

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the role of oxalic acid metabolism in the incipient decay of brown rotting, and to investigate the effects of various compositions of culture medium. Until 5days incubation, the amount of oxalic acid produced by Tyromyces palustris was increased, while pH was gradually decreased. The difference in oxalic acid production depending on carbon sources was not significant and the pH adjustment of media did not stimulate the production of oxalic acid. In this experiment, hemicellulose was hydrolyzed with 1% oxalic acid, so it is suggested that nonenzymatic acid hydrolysis of hemicelluloses might be involved in the process of incipient decay of brown-rot fungi.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 1996

This study was performed to evaluate the reduction in bending properties of radiata pine sapwood associated with incipient brown-rot decay. Decayed bending specimens by Tyromyces palustris and Gloeophyllum trabeum for varoious periods were tested destructively. Brown-rot decay by T. palustris and G. trabeum caused serious reduction in bending properties at very early stages of decay, with about 30 percent decrease in bending strength observed for only 1~2 percent weight loss. In general, the reduction in bending properties caused by T. palustris was somewhat greater than that by G. trabeum. Work to maximum load was reduced most severely and rapidly from the onset of decay, while modulus of elasticity showed a much more moderate rate of reduction. Modulus of rupture was affected by decay to a greater extent than was modulus of elasticity. Since a relatively strong correlation between weight loss and bending strength was observed, the residual strength of decayed wood can be predicted by weight loss due to decay. The results of this study indicate that very early stages of brown-rot decay reduce the bending strength significantly. Thus, it is recommended that all load-bearing members in wooden structures, especially those that are periodically wetted, should be inspected regularly to prevent a sudden failure even though there are no definite signs of decay.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.18-27
• /
• 1996

The feasibility of using stress-wave technique in the transverse direction for the assessment of early stages of decay was investigated using compression test specimens having different annual ring orientations subjected to decay by Tyromyces palustris for various time intervals. Decay detection, quantitative assessment of decay, and the prediction of residual strength of decayed wood with less than five percent weight loss can be feasible using stress-wave parameters (wave velocity, wave impedance, and stress-wave elasticity) and their percent reduction due to decay, measured by stress-wave technique in the transverse direction. The use of stress-wave technique in the transverse direction for the application of this technique to structural members in service is desirable, when considering the easiness of attachment of accelerometers of stress-wave measuring device on the surface of members and also accurate detection of localized decayed areas. In stress-wave technique in the transverse direction, stress-wave parameters measured were different according to the angles between wave propagation path and annual ring, due to the anisotropy of wood structure. Therefore, it is recommended to use percent reduction in stress-wave parameters instead of stress-wave parameters. This evaluation method using percent reduction in stress-wave parameters is ideal when it is impossible to observe annual ring orientation on the transverse surface of wood.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.143-155
• /
• 2020

A juniper pocket rot fungus, Pyrofomes demidoffii is a basidiomycetous fungus responsible for damage of living Juniperus spp. However, its effect on the residual strength and on the extent of decay of juniper's trunk was not determined in any prior studies. The purpose of this study was to study the features of J. procera infected by P. demdoffii, and to estimate the level of strength loss and decay severity in the trunk at D.B.H height using different five formulas. Infected juniper stands were examined in two Ethiopian forests through Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) followed by a slight destructive drilling of the trunk at D.B.H height. The decayed juniper tree is characterized by partially degraded lignin material at incipient stage of decay to completely degraded lignin material at final stage of decay. In the evaluated formulas, results of ANOVA showed that a significantly higher mean percentage of strength loss and decay severity were recorded in the trees of larger D.B.H categories (p<0.001). The strength loss formulas produced the same to similar patterns of sum of ranks of strength loss or decay severity in the trunk, but the differences varied significantly among D.B.H categories in Kruskal Wallis-test (p<0.001). In conclusion, the employed formulas showed similar to different degree of variability in quantification of strength loss or decay severity in the trunk. The findings of our study could be used as the baseline for further study on juniper's strength loss or decays in the trunk of Juniperus spp. and unequivocally helps to design the corresponding management as result of P. demidoffii.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.30-35
• /
• 2008

Degradation of mechanical properties of fire-killed Korean red pine has been investigated after death in 5 years period. Impact bending absorbed energy was the most sensitive property by elapsed time after forest fire. It is an indication of incipient decay of the wood and can be useful indicator to monitor any change of mechanical property of fire-killed tree after death. Degradation of mechanical properties was more pronounced in sapwood than heartwood. Impact bending absorbed energy was more reduced than any other properties in both sapwood and heartwood, while compressive strength was least impacted by elapsed time after forest fire. It is recommended that the fire-killed Korean red pine can be harvested in one year after the fire for industrial uses by considering decay and consequent changes of mechanical properties.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 2000

An experimental study has been carried out at circulating water channel to investigate the viscous flow around breaking waves generated by a submerged hydrofoil(NACA0012). Detailed flow measurements were made at several critical points including an incipient wave-breaking point and a fully-developed wave breaker. Particle Image Velocimetry(PIV) was employed to visualize the flow field very close to the breaker as well as at the near- and far-wake of the breaker. Generation, development and decay of the wave breaker have been investigated. It is found that PIV technique could be well applied to the complex flow field, including the vortical structures near the free surface as well as the wake of the hydrofoil.