Volumetric Method of Determining Dry Weight of Green Aspen Bolts

The primary purpose of this study was to establish factors for converting the green volume of peeled and unpeeled aspen bolts into estimates of the ovendry weight of wood substance present. The second purpose was to compute a factor for converting the green weight of aspen into dry weight. The conversion factors established in this study were developed by two methods. The first was established from total weights and volumes of test discs while the second was developed from specific gravity, moisture content, shrinkage, percent bark and other properties. Unpeeled bolts lost an average of 0.6 percent in volume and 4.7 percent in weight during the first 2 weeks of drying. After 6 weeks, the losses had increased to 12 percent of the original volume. The loss in weight of the peeled bolts was considerably greater than the unpeeled bolts for a similar period of time. The volume changes of the bolts due to drying were considerably less than the weight changes even after 1 month. The ratio of dry volume to green volume remained constant for both peeled and unpeeled aspen bolts despite changes in both bolt diameter and height in the tree from which the bolts were cut. The ratio of dry weight to green volume increases with an increase in specific gravity of the wood. Green weight measurements can be used to estimate dry weight; however, such a method is impractical when an accurate estimate is desired. Accuracy cannot be maintained because of the wide variation of moisture content during the year and the rapid weight loss due to bolt drying.

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