Sawing simulation of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) stems for production of heartwood-containing components

Natural durable heartwood products have less dimensional changes and are an environmentally friendly alternative to the use of preservatives. The present study explores the potential for the production of products containing heartwood from maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.). The study was based on 30 virtual maritime pine stems that were mathematically reconstructed including description of external shape, internal knot architecture and heartwood. Stems were used as raw material input data for simulation of bucking and sawing. The impact of raw material characteristics and final products requirements on sawing yields was studied for production of components for glued laminated boards and for windows. Log and heartwood diameters were found to be the most influencing variables on final yields. The position of the log within the stem was also important while log length did not influence final yields (around 5% batch yield for all length groups). The highest sawing yields, 13% of heartwood products from log total volume, were found with 3 m logs bucked between 3 and 9 m height of 83 yr old trees. There is potential for the production of maritime pine heartwood products with additional efforts to be done in log and product sorting.