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From inside to outside: CT scanning as a tool to link internal knot structure and external branch diameter as a prerequisite for quality assessment.
- Source :
- Wood Science & Technology; Mar2022, Vol. 56 Issue 2, p509-529, 21p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Branches are as essential for tree growth as knots are detrimental from the wood quality point of view. To bridge the gap between tree growth and the quality toward end-use, this study aims to establish a relationship between internal and external diameters of Douglas-fir whorl branches. The data comprised 102 trees of a wide age range (30–80 years old) from nine study sites in Southwest Germany. External branch measurements were performed in the field following an established protocol. Logs were scanned on a MiCROTEC CT.LOG, and knots were detected by applying an automated algorithm. Obvious detection artefacts by the CT algorithm were excluded to reveal the relationship between inner-outer branch diameters as clear as possible. Results showed a significant mean difference of 13.8 (± 10.0) mm between the methods (external diameter being larger), with a model indicating an offset of 9.75 mm and angular shift of 0.53 (RMSE = 7.12 mm; R<superscript>2</superscript> = 0.57) between the methods. Separate calculations of sound and dead datasets did not reveal a statistically significant difference. By linking the internal knot structure to external branch measurements, the findings of this study constitute a first step toward the incorporation of CT data into growth models, providing a meaningful prediction of the maximum internal knot diameter at an early stage in the wood supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- COMPUTED tomography
TREE age
WOOD quality
DIAMETER
WOOD
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00437719
- Volume :
- 56
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Wood Science & Technology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 155953931
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-021-01352-z