Toughness of Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) Salvaged after 0 to 6 Months on the Ground

Abstract Recovering value, mainly as lumber, from windthrown trees is important. Toughness has been shown to be an early indicator of deterioration. To investigate, approximately 38-year-old loblolly pine trees, from the same forest stand, were felled. From these fallen trees, five trees were removed at 0, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months. Toughness specimens were prepared and tested from this material. Bending modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of cross-laminated timber specimens from this same material (reported elsewhere) showed no significant differences. Results indicated that toughness decreases in response to time on ground were statistically significant. This finding suggests that within the 0-to-6-month interval toughness declined but no changes in MOR and MOE were not detectable.