Industrial Grading of Structural Logs Without Waste

The Challenge

Sustainable construction increasingly demands repurposing tree trunks for structural applications such as beams and floors. However, reliable mechanical characterization is essential before timber can be used structurally. Traditional proof-loading methods risk damaging the timber, making them unsuitable for production-line quality control where all material must remain usable.

The Solution

This research developed a non-destructive industrial protocol using the GrindoSonic impulse excitation technique for mechanical characterization and classification of tree trunks. The approach enables proof-loading equivalent assessment without damaging the timber, providing rapid quality control that integrates into sawmill workflows while ensuring compliance with structural grading standards.

Results

The protocol demonstrates how IET enables industrial-scale timber grading without destructive testing, supporting sustainable construction by allowing all characterized material to be used. This non-destructive approach ensures reliable mechanical property assessment while maximizing material utilization from forest resources.