Basic physical properties of spruce wood (Picea abies Karst) from plantations

Abstract

The basic physical properties of spruce wood from plantations in the surroundings of Banja Luka were researched. The dependence of growth ring diameter and wood density, density, volume porosity, shrinkage, fibre saturation point and absorption of moisture were analysed on three trees average age about 16 years. The data for breast height and for all specimens from breast height to 9.3 m were statistically processed. The research and analysis of the basic physical properties of plantation-grown spruce wood shows that the effect of growth ring diameter on the density is negative and that the dependence is logarithmic, which confirms the previous results. Average value of wood density is lower than the usual value reported in references. Average value of radial shrinkage is 3.90%, and tangential 8.10%. This research confirms the linear dependence between the nominal density and volumetric shrinkage of spruce wood and that density has a negative effect on the coefficient of surface anisotropy. At breast height, average value of the coefficient of surface anisotropy is 2.16, volume porosity 72%, and fibre saturation point 32.6%. Average rate of absorption is 3.42% per day, for the first 7 days, and 0.12% per day for the last 30 days. The study results were compared to the results reported by other authors