Influence of the Harvesting Region on Batch Homogeneity of Ipe Wood (Tabebuia sp.) Based on Its Physical and Mechanical Properties

This paper aims to evaluate the hypothesis regarding the homogeneity of wood batches, as provided in the Brazilian standard for wooden structures ABNT NBR 7190 through an experimental study simulating the condition of a sawmill where the control of the harvest region, location of the sample in the trunk, edaphoclimatic condition, relief, and vegetation are variables that cannot be controlled. An experimental study was performed on 15 properties (3 physical and 12 mechanical) of Ipe (Tabebuia sp.) wood. Batches from three harvesting regions (Mucajaí [RR-A], Bonfim [RR-B], and Cláudia [MT]) were used to verify the existence of significant differences between the properties of the three areas. The properties were obtained following the test methods established in ABNT NBR 7190-3, with 540 specimens being manufactured and characterized, prior to being submitted to a statistical analysis, where ANOVA was applied with the Anderson–Darling normality test, the homogeneity of variance of multiple comparisons, and the Tukey test. Statistical analysis indicated that the wood harvesting regions showed significant differences in six (40%) and non-significant differences in nine (60%) of the fifteen properties evaluated. Among the properties evaluated, the compressive strength parallel to the grain (fc0) showed significant differences. This property is used to classify the wood strength class according to the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 7190-1. The batches from the harvesting regions RR-A, RR-B, and MT were classified using the strength classes D60, D50, and D50, respectively. These results directly impact the consideration of the homogeneity of the batches, considering that the sawmills receive samples from different regions. For future research, a numerical method can be applied to consider the influence of the wood harvesting area.