Shrinkage processes in standard-size Norway spruce wood specimens with different vulnerability to cavitation

• DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpp077
• Publication Date: 2009-09-30T01:25:29Z
• Authors: S. Rosner; B. Karlsson; J. Konnerth; C. Hansmann
• Keywords: Shrinkage; Tracheid; Tension (geology)

The aim of this study was to observe the radial shrinkage Norway spruce [Picea abies (L. Karst.)] trunkwood specimens with different hydraulic vulnerability cavitation from fully saturated state until overall reaches a stable value, and relate wood recovery cavitations water column inside tracheids. Radial processes in standard-size sapwood (6 mm × 6 100 mm; radial, tangential longitudinal) obtained at positions within trunk, representing ages cambium, were compared. Cavitation events assessed by acoustic emission (AE) testing, AE feature analysis calculated changes contact pressure between 150 kHz transducer specimen. Two observed both juvenile (annual rings 1 2) mature 17–19), first one termed tension second cell wall process, which started when most tracheids reached relative contents below fiber saturation. Maximum coincided high-energy AEs, periods could be traced release due cavitation. Juvenile wood, less sensitive cavitation, had lower earlywood tracheid diameters prone deformation tensile strain than showed shrinkage, thus total shrinkage. Earlywood lumen maximum strongly positively related each other, meaning that bigger are more same smaller