Strength Properties of Plantation-Grown Slash Pine

Extensive plantations of slash pine in eastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana are now of merchantable size. Since these plantings represent extensions of the natural range of this species, questions have been raised concerning their physical and mechanical properties. This paper reports results of standard strength tests and evaluates use of IBM techniques in analyzing strength test data. Six sample plantation areas were selected for source material. The areas individually represent tree ages from 18 to 28 years. Two locations were in the Gulf-Coast Flatwood area, and four sites in the Middle Coastal-Plain area. Ten trees per area were selected to furnish bolts for the test sticks. The variables of rings per inch, percent summerwood, and moisture content within location were correlated with certain strength properties. This plantation-grown slash pine does not exhibit normal strength properties for the species. The factors ordinarily associated with the variability of strength properties in wood appear to be of only intermittent significance as to their predictive value with reference to modulus of rupture, maximum crushing strength, and maximum shearing strength. The use of punch card procedures in the analysis of data from strength property tests of wood is highly recommended.

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