APPARENT DENSITY OF EUCALYPTUS WOOD EVALUATED BY DIGITAL X-RAY IMAGES AFTER STORAGE IN THE FIELD DURING 365 DAYS

Abstract

Background: The use of X-rays non-destructive technique in color scale in 2D and 3D needs further studies to understand variations in the apparent density of wood stored under natural conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate, by digital X-ray images and to test the rainbow scale in digital X-ray images in 2D and 3D, the apparent density of eucalyptus wood after storage in the field during 365 days. Trees of two diametric classes were randomly distributed at three heights in a pile in direct contact with the soil. The apparent density of the wood and its diametric profiles in the radial direction were determined using digital X-ray images in gray scale, and converted to a rainbow scale and the density variations plotted on a 3D surface.

Results: The wood density decreased as the storage period increased. The density of the samples at 0 days of storage evaluated with the 3D images was homogeneous, while an intense attack by xylophagous organisms due to the exposure to the environmental conditions was observed in those collected at 365 days of storage.

Conclusion: The rainbow scale color from X-ray images facilitated to visualize and to interpret the variation of apparent density distribution of the wood.