Reclaimed timber could be used in new buildings, renovations or alterations. However, the biggest problem to overcome is the development of reliable diagnostic methodology to validate mechanical properties and their suitability for repeated structural use.
Nowadays, there is no established market for reclaimed wood, primarily due to the absence of a standardized classification system. Existing grading standards developed for new timber are not applicable to reclaimed timber, due to the large number of variables that are not encountered in new – fresh lumber (Llana et al., 2022).
Prior research has shown that mechanical properties like flexural stiffness and strength can remain intact in older wood, but issues like decay and deformation from aging and poor storage remain concerns (Cavalli et al., 2016, Raposo et al., 2017, Asa et al., 2024).
The aim of this study is to evaluate the options with regard to estimating the mechanical properties of reclaimed timber, for its reusability for structural purposes. Our study consists of visual grading, non-destructive testing (NDT) and bending test according to EN 408 of both reclaimed and newly sawn oak timber, aiming to establish relationships between grading methods and actual mechanical performance.
Keywords: reclaimed timber, NDT, visual grading, four-point bending test
Authors
Barbora Herdová
Technical University in Zvolen, Slovakia
Rastislav Lagaňa
Technical University in Zvolen, Slovakia
Lukáš Štefančin
Technical University in Zvolen, Slovakia
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