The use of new wood species in construction requires knowledge of their properties for safer and more economical structural sizing. In Brazil, structural projects are carried out according to the standard document ABNT NBR 7190:1997. Tests required by this standard for the complete characterization of species require large machines with high costs, which are present only in large research centers. Considering the lack of experimental determination, this study aimed, with the help of analysis of variance of regression models, to investigate the possibility of estimating, through apparent density, wood properties obtained in tests where failure is considered fragile, allowing the estimation of properties of species still little used. Ten wood species belonging to the hardwood group (cambara, cedro, cedrorana, copaiba, angelim-araroba, castelo, oiticicaamarela, guarucaia, guaicara, and garapa), covering all strength classes established in the standard ABNT NBR 7190:1997, were used. The results showed that shear strength parallel to the grain (fv0) was the only property that could be estimated by apparent density (ρ12), with an R 2 above 50%. Tensile strength normal to the grain (ft90) and splitting strength (fs0) showed poor fit quality.

As wood is an orthotropic and natural material, there are several properties required for its use in civil construction. The apparent density has been used to estimate physical and mechanical properties of wood, as it is easy to determine experimentally, unlike other determinations, which involve the use of equipment available only in large research centers. Using the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 7190 and linear and non-linear regression models, this research aimed to evaluate their accuracy in estimating the compressive strength parallel to the fibers (fc0) as well as their characteristic value (fc0,k). This study considered 72 tropical wood species from native forests that were divided into the 4 strength classes of this standard. For the set formed by all species, the linear polynomial model was the best fit, resulting in a determination coefficient of just over 70%.

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Accurate estimation of average modulus of elasticity in compression parallel to the grain (Ec0) is of paramount importance for rational sizing of timber structures, given the use of this property in the estimation of stability of compressed parts (ultimate limit state, ULS) and in calculation of excessive strains (serviceability limit state, SLS). In Brazil, if values cannot be experimentally determined, ABNT NBR 7190 (1997) allows for estimation of Ec0 through relations to average modulus of elasticity both in tension parallel to the grain (Et0) (Ec0 = Et0) and in bending (EM) (Ec0 = EM/0.90). This research aimed to access the efficiency of these relations by testing 30 tropical wood species. The analysis of variance results showed that Ec0 and Et0 were statistically equal. However, Ec0 and EM/0.90 were not statistically equal, and the method of least squares resulted in a coefficient of 0.98, which was 8.89% higher than the one suggested by ABNT NBR 7190 (1997) and close to 1, thus, validating the results of ANOVA, which pointed on the equivalence between Ec0 and EM (Ec0 = EM). As an alternative to simplified equations of the standard, two-parameter regression models were used. The geometric model with R² = 91.67% proved to be the model of best fit, which demonstrated that Ec0 could be calculated as a function of EM.

Wood has been used by mankind for many years in many purposes specially in construction and manufacture. It is necessary to characterize unknown species as an alternative for human use due to predatory harvest of well-known wood species; in consequence, possible shortage of this wood. This study intended to determine, under the Brazilian Standard ABNT NBR 7190, the mechanical properties of Copaíba wood (Copaifera sp.), and with the analysis of variance (ANOVA), handling the regression models, predict the values of strength and stiffness as a function of apparent density. Twelve models were used for each test, totalizing 180 experimental results. The mechanical properties of Copaifera sp. presented on tests demonstrated compatible performance with common wood species used in civil construction. According the regression models, any properties were considered significant with apparent density estimation.

The fiber saturation point (FSP) is an important parameter of wood material, related to dimensional stability and variations of mechanical performance. This paper investigated the FSP values of 15 tropical Brazilian wood species covering all strength classes of the Brazilian standard code. An additional goal was to estimate FSP value based on the wood’s apparent density. The FSP values were determined by measuring the wood specimen dimensions during moisture content reduction from the saturated state. Wood densities at 0% and 12% moisture contents and basic density were determined according to the Brazilian standard code. The average FSP for all wood species was 21.6% moisture content. Among density values, good correlations were observed, and a multivariate regression model for FSP estimation based on wood densities presented a coefficient of determination equal to 13.07%. There was no correlation between FSP and wood densities, suggesting that this parameter is almost constant regardless of the wood species.

RESUMO Os painéis têm sido cada vez mais utilizados nas construções civis, rurais, entre outras, com destaque para os compensados pelo bom desempenho mecânico. Em muitas aplicações, os painéis podem estar sujeitos à ação de carregamentos cíclicos, e dessa forma, o conhecimento do efeito da fadiga é de fundamental importância. Todavia, as normas ABNT NBR ISO 2426 [12], NBR ISO 1096 [13], NBR 9489 [14] e NBR 9533 [15] que apresentam as classificações e os métodos de ensaios de painéis de madeira, não prescrevem requisitos para considerar o efeito da fadiga nas propriedades do material, o que motiva o desenvolvimento de pesquisas nessa temática. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito do número de ciclos de fadiga [NC] (0 - referência, 3600, 7200, 22500, 45000, 67500, 90000) para a frequência de oscilação igual a 1,0 Hz nos valores do módulo de elasticidade na flexão (MOE) de painéis comerciais de madeira compensada de eucalipto. Foram fabricados seis corpos de prova para cada número de ciclos, resultando em 36 amostras. Os resultados evidenciaram reduções significativas do MOE a partir de 22500 ciclos, implicando que 0, 3600 e 7200 ciclos forneceram resultados estatisticamente equivalentes. O modelo de regressão logarítmico mostrou ser o de melhor representatividade (R²=64,28%), apresentando-se como alternativa na previsão do decaimento do MOE para ciclos de fadiga superiores aos avaliados nessa pesquisa.

The growing world consumption of wood in civil construction is evident, especially in structural roofing systems. Despite being from a renewable source, its rational and intelligent use is of vital importance in the execution of structural designs. Because it is a system that is recognized worldwide in the design of trussing roof structures, there are several empirical assumptions for structural calculation. To reduce timber consumption, some tile manufacturers suggest a 10% (6°) slope between chords. However, after simulations of 11 slopes with angles from 5° to 15°, the timber consumption was inversely proportional to the slope, reaching a 90% difference between extreme angles. The method used to obtain the results was software designed according to the routines prescribed by the new draft standard of ABNT NBR 7190 (2021). Considering a prefabricated truss with 5 cm thickness sections, the design criterion was that of minimum height, increasing by 0.10 cm until all checks were satisfied. Finally, the minimum angle after which no strengthening is required on the bars was 10°.