The effect of 120 years of service on various physical and mechanical properties of Scots pine wood used as roof beam

Abstract

In this study, various physical and mechanical properties of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood, salvaged from the roof of demolished warehouse used for 120 years, were determined and compared with those of wood of freshly-cut trees, The results indicated that the several physical (percent volumetric swelling and shrinkage as well as air- and oven-dry and bulk densities, respectively) and mechanical properties (impact, static bending, shear and compression strengths parallel to grain along with Janka hardness, respectively) of the salvaged Scots pine wood were significantly affected by the service life of 120 years when compared to the properties of freshly-cut Scots pine wood. The most affected physical and mechanical properties are percent swelling ratio and impact bending strength of the pine wood.