Properties of Eucalyptus clonal wood from a tropical region for application in civil construction

Forest plantations play a strategic role in climate change mitigation and in supplying renewable raw material for structural applications in civil construction. However, the suitability of fast-growing Eucalyptus clones for sawnwood production depends strongly on their wood quality. This study assessed the morphological characteristics and the physical and mechanical properties of wood from two 8-year-old hybrid clones (Eucalyptus urophylla × E. camaldulensis and Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis) planted in Mato Grosso, Brazil, aiming to determine their potential for structural lumber. Both clones showed favorable log morphology, with low conicity (< 1%), moderate pith eccentricity (9–11%), and a high proportion of heartwood (37–41%), indicating good potential for sawnwood recovery. However, clear differences were observed in wood quality. The E. urophylla × E. camaldulensis clone exhibited higher wood density, lower shrinkage, and superior mechanical performance, presenting approximately 18% higher compression strength parallel to grain and 25% higher static bending strength compared with E. urophylla × E. grandis. These differences directly affect end-use performance, indicating that E. urophylla × E. camaldulensis wood is more suitable for structural components subjected to higher mechanical stresses, while E. urophylla × E. grandis shows satisfactory performance for non-structural or lightly loaded applications. The results demonstrate that clone selection is a decisive factor for producing Eucalyptus lumber with targeted structural performance, contributing to the efficient use of fast-grown plantation wood in civil construction.