Rheological behavior of wood in stress relaxation under compression

Rheological behavior of wood under uniaxial compression along and perpendicular to the grain in constant environment was examined. Tests with constant deformation rate until failure and stress relaxation tests with constant deformation applied stepwise were carried out. The experimental results of stress relaxation showed nonlinear material behavior over time that got more prominent under high deformation levels. Considerable amount of stress relaxed during applying the deformation. Wood experienced greater stress relaxation along the grain than perpendicular to it. Three rheological models for orthotropic material were calibrated to the experimentally determined stress–time curves in longitudinal and transverse directions simultaneously. Small deformation levels assuming linear strains were accounted for in the models. Required elastic material parameters were determined from the tests with constant deformation rate. A model including the highest number of viscoelastic material parameters was the most successful in predicting stress relaxation of wood under stepwise deformation. Modeling indicated that wood behavior was very close to linear viscoelastic in relaxation under small deformation. The obtained material parameters made the model suitable for predicting rheological behavior of wood comprehensively, under sustained deformation or load in constant conditions.