Analysis of Variation and Difference in Compressive Strength along the Grain of Taxodium Ascendens Plantation

Abstract The compressive strength along the grain (CSAG) is one of the important mechanical properties in design for wood structural materials. Taxodium ascendens Brongn is one of the important timber species planted in the water network area of the Yangtze River basin in China. In this paper, its radial and axial variation of the compressive strength along the grain within and among trees in Taxodium ascendens plantation. The results show that the CSAG variation of Taxodium ascendens increase in radial direction with a tree age and first increases, then decreases and fially keep stable. The axial variation of CSAG first increases, then decreases and stabilize from base of a tree to top. There is a clear positive correlation of its CSAG with extractives content, which reflected that the variation of its CSAG is mainly influenced by the content of extractives. There are significant differences in CSAG among trees of Taxodium ascendens and different heights a tree. The average of its CSAG is 35.37 MPA, with a range of 25.05-47.34 MPa. According to the standard data of Chinese wood properties, its CSAG is relatively small and its timber is soft in hardness. It can be used as general furniture material and is not suitable as a load-bearing lumber