Caracterización de propiedades mecánicas y físicas de Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden mediante técnicas destructivas y no destructivas

In Uruguay, the growth of the forestry sector and the increasing interest in the structural use of wood justify the generation of local information to support the technological valorization and classification of Eucalyptus grandis. Within this context, the general objective of this study was to characterize the physical and mechanical properties of wood obtained from 9-, 12-, and 15-year-old plantations, to evaluate the influence of age and radial position within the stem, and to estimate the modulus of elasticity using non-destructive techniques, analyzing its correlation with a destructive reference method. The study was carried out using specimens obtained from sawn timber, on which non-destructive tests were performed using Fakopp and Sylvatest instruments, as well as destructive static bending tests under a three-point loading configuration using a universal testing machine. Additionally, attributes such as moisture content and wood density were determined following recognized procedures and technical standards for physical–mechanical characterization. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, correlation analysis between methods and wood properties, principal component analysis, and classification models based on decision trees. The results showed increases in density, modulus of elasticity, and modulus of rupture with increasing age and from pith to bark. The mean values of modulus of elasticity were 11,166.21 MPa for 9 years, 13,611.39 MPa for 12 years, and 11,313.57 MPa for 15 years. Likewise, the mean values of modulus of rupture were 71.197 MPa, 74.353 MPa, and 76.296 MPa for the respective ages. Significant correlations were identified between the modulus of elasticity values obtained through non-destructive methods and those determined by destructive testing, confirming consistent trends between both approaches. Furthermore, it was confirmed that age and radial position significantly influenced the evaluated properties, and that non-destructive techniques constitute a reliable tool for inferring the mechanical behavior of wood. These techniques provide relevant information for the classification, valorization, and structural use of Eucalyptus grandiswithin the national productive and technological context, while also reducing time and costs associated with destructive testing. However, the results also highlight the need to incorporate additional variables in order to achieve a more accurate estimation of the modulus of elasticity.