Influence of Salt Concentration and Treatment Cycles on Nail-Holding Power in Dimension Lumber

Abstract

To rigorously analyze the effects of high-salt environments on dimension lumber and provide scientific and reliable data to facilitate the advancement of light-frame construction in such environments, this study subjected dimension lumber to salt solution treatment. The study investigated the trend of nail-holding power variations across the radial, tangential, and cross-sections of spruce–pine–fir (SPF) dimension lumber under varying salt concentrations and treatment durations. The experimental results exhibited a significant influence of salt on the nail-holding power across all sections of the SPF dimension lumber. As the concentration of salt solution increased, the holding power gradually decreased across all directions, exhibiting considerable differences across salinity gradients. Specifically, the radial and tangential sections exhibited a 15%–20% higher nail-holding power compared to the cross-section. An increase in the salt solution concentration above 3% corresponded to an approximate 1% decrement in nail-holding power per section for every 0.5% rise in concentration. Additionally, prolonged salt treatment initially resulted in an increase, followed by a subsequent decrease in nail-holding power, demonstrating a consistent pattern across all variations. Post hoc analyses confirmed that the differences between individual salt concentrations, including between 3.5%, 4%, and 4.5%, were statistically significant. These findings provide valuable data for understanding the degradation of timber connectors in high-salt environments, contributing to the development of more durable and resilient wood-frame buildings in such conditions.

Keywords

• timber connections
• spruce–pine–fir (SPF)
• nail-holding power
• salt corrosion