• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.446-455
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• 2015

Based on comparative studies on standards and grading procedures of machine graded lumber in Korea and other countries, this study proposed a procedure of determining the grade classification and design strengths of domestic machine graded lumber. Differences between machine stress rated lumber and E-rated laminations were detailed in order to clarify the need for the procedure improvement. To this improvement the use of average MOE requirement for grading was introduced instead of the fixed minimum MOE requirement which is currently used in the Korean standards. It was found that the fixed minimum MOE requirement method was easier for an inspector to grade but, less efficient as a strength predictor than the average MOE requirement method. The advantage of average MOE requirement method is statistically MOR-MOE regression-based MOR prediction and highly efficient in quality control though it requires a computer-aided operation system in an initial setup. A major weakness of the current Korean grading system was found that different strength characteristics depending on wood species were not reflected on the grade classification and the tabulated allowable design stress. The proposed procedures were developed taking advantages of respective merits of both methods and based on MOR-MOE regression analysis. Through this procedure, the grades of machine stress rated lumber should be revised to become interchangeable with E-rated lamination, which would be beneficial to the cost competitiveness of domestic machine graded lumber and glued laminated timber industry.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.13-22
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• 2007

This study was carried out to scrutinize possibility of manufacturing pitch pine (Pinus rigida) glued laminated timber in order to add values of pitch pine trees. Also, it was investigated to improve bending performance of pitch pine glulam. Pitch pine was imported as one of major plantation species in Korean peninsula. Machine stress rated grades of pitch pine lumber mostly ranged between E7 and E9. which grades were more or less inferior to producing high quality glulam. However, the adhesive properties between pitch pine and pitch pine, and between pitch pine and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Carr.), such as shear bond strength, wood failure rate and de-lamination rate of bonded layer submerged in cold and boiling water, were higher than Korean Standard criteria. These properties are essential for manufacturing glulam with single species or multiple species. The modulus of rupture (MOR) of pitch pine glulam exceeded the criterion of Korean Standard for glulam strength grade but modulus of elasticity (MOE) was lower than the criterion. On the other hand, the bending performances (MOR and MOE) were improved 20 percent by mixing with Japanese larch laminar. It is effective to arrange higher quality Japanese larch laminar at the outer layer of glulam for improving bending performances. In conclusion, it is possible to use low quality pitch pine as laminar of structural glulam for adding values of pitch pine.