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Strength and Stiffness Properties of Sweetgum and Yellow-poplar Structural Lumber

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The forest resource base in the Southeast is rapidly changing. Dwindling reserves of high quality pine sawlogs will provide incentives to utilize low-density hardwoods such as yellow-poplar and sweetgum for structural lumber. Inventories of sweetgum (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) are currently high and growth is exceeding removals. The mechanical propertiees of dimension lumber produced from sweetgum are relatively unknown. The objective of this study was to establish strength and stiffness data on sweetgum dimension lumber in bending, tension, and compression modes. The relationship between these strength modes was also investigated. Results indicate that sweetgum equals or exceeds yellow-poplar in strength and stiffness overall, and on a grade-by-grade basis. Correlations between bending, tension, and compression strength and stiffness were lower than correlations established for pine.

Citation

Faust, Timothy D.; McAlister, Robert H.; Zarnoch, Stanley J. 1990. Strength and Stiffness Properties of Sweetgum and Yellow-poplar Structural Lumber. Forest Products Journal. 40(10): 58-64.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/237