Abstract
THE fact that fungal decay considerably lowers the strength of timber has long been familiar to all who employ this material for structural purposes, but practically no information has been available as to the actual amount of damage caused in any specific wood at various stages of decay. Recently it has been shown that almost imperceptible decay may render Sitka spruce timber unsuitable for use where high mechanical strength is required. An investigation carried out at Princes Risborough by the Forest Products Research Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has now taken the matter a step further. The rate of loss of mechanical strength in pieces of timber exposed to the attack of a fungus growing in pure culture, with the chemical and other changes taking place in the wood, have been accurately followed.
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References
Forest Products Research Bulletin 4. K. St. G. Cartwright . "A Decay of Sitka Spruce caused by Trametes serialis" (London: H.M. Stationery Office.)
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FINDLAY, W. Effect of Fungi upon the Strength of Timber. Nature 127, 925 (1931). https://doi.org/10.1038/127925a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/127925a0
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