Mechanical characterization of timber according to European standards from Spanish provenances of Scots Pine

Abstract

The Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is the third most important species in Spain with an annual production of 800,000 m3 of roundwood with bark. This timber is usually used in Spain for structural and decorative purposes. In this work, a mechanical characterization of Scots pine timber from different Spanish provenances and several sizes ranging from 100 × 40 × 2,500 mm to 200 × 70 × 4,500 mm, is carried out. A total of 3,085 boards have been tested in accordance with EN 408, and their mechanical values have been obtained in accordance with EN 384 and EN 338 standards. According to the possible provenances of Scots pine timber in Spain, the samples were selected from regions that make up the three most important zones in terms of productivity (Central, Iberian and Pyrenean Systems). The material was graded in accordance with the Spanish visual strength grading standard UNE 56.544, which sets two grades: ME1 and ME2. The results showed that Spanish Scots pine grade ME1 can be assigned to strength class C27, and that ME2 graded material can also be assigned to C18. The relationships between the strength and the possible predictor variables (E m,g, E cen, ρ, RW) were also studied, concluding that neither the rate of growth nor the density are accurate predictors of bending strength.