Characterisation of cubic oak specimens from the Vasa ship and recent wood by means of quasi-static loading and resonance ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS)

The cylindrical orthotropy, inherent time-dependency response, and variation between and within samples make the stiffness characterisation of wood more challenging than most other structural materials. The purpose of the present study is to compare static loading with resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) and to investigate how to combine the advantages of each of these two methods to improve the estimation of the full set of elastic parameters of a unique sample. The behavior of wood as an orthotropic mechanical material was quantified by elastic engineering parameters, i.e. Poisson’s ratios and Young’s and shear moduli. Recent and waterlogged archaeological oak impregnated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) from the Vasa warship built in 1628 was in focus. The experimental results were compared, and the difference between RUS and static loading was studied. This study contributes additional information on the influence of PEG and degradation on the elastic engineering parameters of wood. Finally, the shear moduli and Poisson’s ratios were experimentally determined for Vasa archaeological oak for the first time