Dynamic module of elasticity, factor of quality and material index of 25 woods. Determination by transverse vibrations

Abstract

The industry that uses wood as an input requires, for calculation and design purposes, engineering
parameters derived from experimental tests. The objective of the research was to determine the dynamic
modulus of elasticity, the quality factor and the material index of 25 wood species. The density and
moisture content of the wood were calculated and transverse vibration tests were performed. The values
range of wood density was broad. The species Spathodea campalunata resulted to have lower density;
and the wood of Dalbergia granadillo was reported with the maximum density. The minimum value of the
modulus of dynamic elasticity corresponded to S. campalunata, and the maximum to Tabebuia chrysantha.
It was verified that the density of the wood is a good predictor of its dynamic modulus of elasticity. The
quality factor correlates well with density. In contrast, the material index does not correlate. The quality
factor and the material index normalize the value of the modulus of elasticity, in this case, the dynamic
one. These parameters find application to classify a species of wood for a specific use, and to use them
as a selection criterion.