THE USE OF ARBOTOM® AS A NON-DESTRUCTIVE METHOD FOR
ANALYSING GROWTH STRESSES IN Eucalyptus benthamii TREES
O uso do Arbotom® como um método não-destrutivo de análise das tensões de
crescimento em árvores de Eucalyptus benthamii
Leif Nutto 1
Luciano Farinha Watzlawick 2
Wirtu Gammachu3
Abstract
Growth stresses in Eucalyptus tree species cause considerable problems for the use of trees of this genus for solid
wood products. Cracks and splits in roundwood reduce recovery rates in wood conversion and cause problems while
drying, resulting in lower economic outputs. For detecting growth strains in standing trees the mainly used method is
the CIRAD Forêt Growth Strain Measurement Gauge, where fibres at the surface of the wooden body are cut and the
liberation of growth strains can be measured in a semi-destructive way. Tomography based on stress wave
measurement on the other hand, allows detection of fluctuations in wood properties in a non-destructive and
repeatable way. In a 5 year old Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden and Cambage stand with different initial spacings, 40
trees were selected. In each tree North and every 90° were marked and the growth strains measured using the CIRAD
Forêt Growth Strain Gauge Method. At the same locations four sensors of the ARBOTOM® Tomograph were put
and the runtimes between the sensors were measured inducing a stress wave. Results of both methods were
compared with statistical methods, showing the potential of detecting zones with higher stress levels with help of the
ARBOTOM, by analyzing the velocities of the stress waves.
Keywords: growth strain, tomography, stress waves
Palavras chaves: tensão de crescimento, tomografia, ondas de tensão
1
2
3
Dr., Professor Visitante Estrangeiro, programa PVE da CAPES, Universidade Federal do Paraná, [email protected]
Dr., Professor, Universidade Estadual Centro Oeste-PR, [email protected]
MSc., Professor, Universidade de Adama, Etiopia, [email protected]