Dimensional Stability of Beech Wood: The Influence of Taper, Slope of Annual Ring and Sawing Pattern

The dimensional stability of sawn timber is one of the key factors affecting processing and final application in various fields, such as construction, furniture making, and interior design. One of the most common problems that beech wood producers may confront is the occurrence of various types of warping (deformation) during drying. These warps significantly affect the processability of sawn timber, which can lead to reduced yield and economic losses. Several factors can affect dimensional stability. These factors include the sawing pattern, the position of the timber in the log, and the slope of the annual rings. Our research investigated these factors and focused on two types of warping: cup and twist. The results showed a notable influence of the original position of the timber in the log on the degree of cup warping after drying (r = 0.5194; p = 0.0189), with timber closer to the perimeter exhibiting less curvature. The sawing pattern (parallel to the surface of the log-RsP; parallel to the axis of the log-RsO) had a less significant effect but showed a tendency towards curvature (r = 0.4242; p = 0.0623). Based on the sawing pattern, after drying, the twist warping was more pronounced in RsP logs, while RsO cuts retained better shape stability and had only minimal cup warping.