Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3220-1927

Advisor

Shmulsky, Rubin

Committee Member

Ragon, Kevin

Committee Member

Franca, Tamara

Committee Member

Rezaei, Fatemeh

Committee Member

Burger, L. Wes

Date of Degree

12-12-2025

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Sustainable Bioproducts

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Sustainable Bioproducts

Abstract

Testing wood in various ways is important to be able to understand the strength and recovery values. The first part of this study aims to assess the design values of mixed oak in-grade, 8 in. thick timbers and mats under various design and loading scenarios. Graded timbers were drilled, assembled into mats, and tested. Results indicated that the mat with a line load across all timbers, was nearly equivalent to the mat with a load applied to the middle timber only. Drilling did not negatively impact strength as compared to solid non-drilled timbers. The second part of this study investigates toughness as an early indicator of deterioration. Approximately 38-year-old loblolly pine trees were felled and removed from the forest at 0, 3, 4, 5, and 6 months time on the ground. Specimens were prepared and tested. Statistically significant decreases in toughness were observed with increasing time on ground.

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