A novel technique for non-damaging measurement of sound speed in seedlings

作者：Emms Grant^*; Nanayakkara Bernadette; Harrington Jonathan

来源：European Journal of Forest Research, 2012, 131(5): 1449-1459.

DOI：10.1007/s10342-012-0614-9

• Sound speed
• Acoustics
• Seedling
• Wood quality
• Screening
• Non-destructive testing

A cross-correlation time-of-flight method for measuring the sound speed in a seedling in a non-destructive and non-damaging way is described. The method uses two miniature accelerometers coupled to the bark of a growing seedling stem to record the acoustic signals and a small striker to generate an acoustic pulse. The two acoustic signals are then time-windowed and cross-correlated in order to calculate the speed of the acoustic pulse. The method measures the sound speed of the seedling stem as a whole and does not selectively measure the fastest path. The method was tested on 1- and 2-year-old Pinus radiata clones. A comparison of the results of the method with a destructive acoustic resonance test showed that the sound speed results are unbiased. Repeatability tests give a standard deviation of the sound speed of less than 2%. The method shows good promise as a rapid and cost-effective tool for early screening of wood quality in clonal trials.

• 出版日期2012-9