Relationship between local and global modulus of elasticity in bending and its consequence on structural timber grading

The study analyses the relationship between local and global modulus of elasticity and develops and evaluates different models to predict local from global modulus measurements. The mechanical tests were performed on four species commonly used in Italy for structural purposes: fir, Douglas-fir, Corsican pine and chestnut. Two or three cross-sections and two provenances were sampled for each species. A theoretical analysis showed that the local–global modulus relationship was of polynomial form with only one coefficient. The effect of the species on the relationship was significant as well as the cross-section but only for softwoods. The effect of the cross-section was explained by the presence and the size of defects in the mid span. The different models were applied and then compared by means of the optimum grading: only slight differences among models emerged. Although optimum grading was strongly dependent on the sampling and on the grade combination, for softwoods the model for species and section showed very similar results to the grading with the true local modulus; inclusion of the knot values in the model led to only slight improvements. For chestnut all models were found to be comparable.