Experimental analysis of the bending behaviour of woods with kerf-cutting technique, Kerf-kesme tekniği uygulanmış ahşapların eğilme davranışının deneysel analizi

Abstract

Wood has been recognised for its ecological benefits and lightness throughout history. Its flexibility can be significantly enhanced when processed with proper techniques inspiring various architectural products and furniture. This study aims to investigate the bending capacity of different natural wood samples made flexible using the kerf-cutting technique and the maximum load they can bear at their maximum bending capacity. Although there are studies on how kerf-cutting techniques can increase the flexibility of various wood products the relationship between the bending capacity provided by the kerf technique and load-bearing capacity has not been examined making this study original. The paper first examines the general physical properties and bending capacities of different wood types. Then a two-stage experimental study is presented. The first step discusses the effects of different kerf-cutting techniques on wood flexibility. The bending and load-bearing capacities of three different types of wood are investigated in the second step. Results indicate that ash has the highest flexibility while walnut demonstrates greater load-bearing strength than ash making it suitable for designs requiring higher strength. © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.