Static Bending and Hardness Performance of Thermally Modified Ash and Pine Species
The objective of this experiment is to understand how the thermal modification process alters wood’s bending and hardness capabilities in different species of wood. This research can be applied to understanding how thermally modified lumber can be used in different industries. Pinus echinata (Southern Yellow Pine) and Fraxinus americana (White Ash) were the two species selected for researched in this study. Treated and untreated variations of both species are undergoing testing in a universal testing machine at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities’ Kaufert laboratory. The species are undergoing 3-point static bending tests and a Janka hardness tests. The modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and maximum pressure for treated and untreated samples will be calculated and extracted from the data. These values will be organized and compared against each other and literature using a t-test to determine significance. Reduced static bending and hardness performance are expected to appear in thermally modified lumber.