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A. Macedo, C. M. P. Vaz, J. C. D. Pereira, J. M. Naime, P. E. Cruvinel, S. Crestana

Wood Density Determination by X- and Gamma-Ray Tomography

Wood density measurement is related to several factors that influence wood quality. In this paper, a CT image calibration procedure which allows image quantification in terms of dry bulk density is presented for three different X- and gamma-ray energies (28.3, and 59.5, and 662.0 keV). The mass attenuation coefficients measured for a set of eight wood species did not vary significantly, allowing a single calibration for determination of bulk density of air-dried wood samples at each energy. The equation for bulk density calibration obtained was validated using a second set of twelve wood species. Comparison of bulk density determined by CT images, using the calibration procedure proposed, with values obtained by gravimetric methods, presented a very good linear correlation coefficient (R²=0.94). The main advantage of CT imaging over conventional techniques for wood bulk density determination is that it allows detection and quantification of heterogeneities and internal defects. At the sub-millimetric spatial resolution level, it is possible to identify morphological and structural aspects of wood samples.

Holzforschung, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 0018-3830
Volume: 56, 08/2002
Pages: 535 - 540

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