Avaliação da rigidez de árvores de duas espécies tropicais por meio de propagação de ondas de tensão

Abstract

The use of new technologies to characterize tropical wood shows promise, since more objective and non-destructive methods of analyzing wood quality in forest management can contribute to avoiding the cutting of trees without quality for timber production and for greater sustainability in the production chain of tropical wood products. In view of the above, this work aimed to determine and identify the quality standards of tropical trees by emission of voltage waves. This study was conducted in two areas managed by the company Mil Madeiras Preciosas. 13 individuals of the black laurel species Ocotea neesiana (Miq) Kosterm and 23 of the species Manilkara huberi (Ducke) Stand were evaluated, measuring the DAP (diameter at breast height) ≥50 cm with the aid of a diametric tape and evaluating the propagation of Stress waves on the standing tree with the Stress Wave Timer equipment. The wave speed and dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEd) were calculated, and a descriptive analysis of the speed and MOEd was carried out. Statistical analyzes were performed using the statistical software R version 4.3.1. The results obtained in this research provide important answers for the sustainability of forest management, the wave emission technique proved to be an effective method for evaluating the stiffness of standing trees. The Stress Wave timer device demonstrated sensitivity when identifying disparities in the stem wood of Ocotea neesiana, whereas for Manilkara huberi, the equipment did not prove to be viable. The results show the possibility of the elastic modulus being obtained by estimation using only the speed value. In addition to answering gaps regarding the flexibility of the tree standing in the forest through wave propagation technology, the results show the possibility of the elastic modulus being obtained by estimation using only the velocity value, through the mathematical equation: Y=0.0001044 (VelT)2.051 with R2=0.98 for transversal and Y=0.0001187(VelD) 2.026 with R2=0.99. This work addresses gaps in knowledge about the flexibility of standing trees in the forest, especially Amazonian species.