In the PRELUDIUM project, we planned to create an extensive database of mechanical properties of lime wood at different relative humidity levels of the environment.
The database will contain the parameters needed for numerical simulations, such as Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratios defined in the anatomical directions of the wood, and most importantly – the critical energy release rate determining the fracture process.
The requirements for the material to be adequate for sample preparation are high: lime wood must be seasoned for several years under appropriate conditions in order to achieve an equilibrium level of moisture content. At the same time, it must not be excessively fractured, and for the purpose of measuring the acoustic emission, cracks are completely undesirable.
Through various paths: from sculptors and conservators to the Institute of Wood Sciences and Furniture at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, we collect the suitable material for our research.