An ultrasonic method for measuring the elastic constants of wood increment cores bored from living trees

Three stiffness moduli and three shear moduli were determined using an ultrasonic velocity method for 5 mm diameter increment cores bored from living beech trees. The validity of the method was assessed by comparing the results for the increment cores with those for standard specimens loaded in static bending and on cubes tested with ultrasonic transverse waves.Good correlation was found between the elastic constants of the cores and standard specimens. It was noted that the regression equation between the modulus of rupture and the longitudinal stiffness modulus for cores, or between the modulus of rupture for standard specimens and longitudinal velocity in cores, permits one to predict the strength of living tree wood through a simple ultrasonic test. The technique is capable of rapidly detecting the differences between individual characteristics of living trees.