Rotational wood welding: Mechanical properties of thermally treated oak

The paper examined the strength of rotationally welded joints between untreated beech dowels and samples of thermally modified and unmodified oak wood (used as substrates). The results were compared with the control group where beech dowels were glued using PVAc (polyvinyl acetate) glue for the same types of samples. Maximum dowel pull-out force was significantly higher for the glued connection compared to the welded connection in both groups - thermally treated and untreated oak wood. Welded joint strength was higher for unmodified group, compared to thermally treated group, which was expected due to negative effects of thermal modification on mechanical properties of wood.