Anatomic parameters and failure behaviour in spruce lumber

This paper presents the results of an experimental program on spruce wood t imber. The experiments ave divided into two parts: at first, each plank has been examined through various non destructive techniques to quantify its b iological properties, in a second stage, it has been loaded under four-poin t bending until failure. The analysis focusses on one hand on the statistic al correlations between several biological measurements and, on the other h and, on the relations existing between these data and structural strength. Using these relations will improve the non destructive evaluation and gradi ng of wood timber.