The Effect of Storage Conditions on the Strength Characteristic of Glulam Beams

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments on forests-2368353

It is a valuable topic to discuss the effect of storage conditions on the strength characteristic of glulam beams. 

n  The introduction must be improved. The effect of temperature and moisture content on properties of wood, as well as the wood products, such as glulam beams, should be emphasized, which is better to show the subject of this study. Namely, the hydrophobicity improvement on wood or wood products seems important to the outdoor applications.

Jiang, J., Du, J., Li, H., Mei, C., & Gong, X. (2022). Hydrophobicity Improvement on Wood for a Better Application of This Bio-Based Material. Coatings, 12(10), 1465.

n  Why did you choose two different wood species?

n  The loading curves could be provided with the mechanical values (MOR and MOE).

n  How many samples did you choose for each test? for data analysis ? More details are needed.

n  How did you adjust the temperature and moisture content? Is it simultaneous? More details should be provided. 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

thank you very much for your contribution to the quality of our publication. We hope we have provided comprehensive answers to your comments.

 The introduction must be improved. The effect of temperature and moisture content on properties of wood, as well as the wood products, such as glulam beams, should be emphasized, which is better to show the subject of this study. Namely, the hydrophobicity improvement on wood or wood products seems important to the outdoor applications. (Jiang, J., Du, J., Li, H., Mei, C., & Gong, X. (2022). Hydrophobicity Improvement on Wood for a Better Application of This Bio-Based Material. Coatings, 12(10), 1465.)

Answer: We agree that it should be emphasized more. It was added to introduction and the paper suggested by you (very valuable by the way) is now included in the reference list. Thank you for your suggestion.

Reviewer 1: Why did you choose two different wood species?

Answer: We were testing different hardwood species in terms of possibility of their use as a reinforcement of the beam’s tensile zone. The preliminary research showed promising results for oak timber so we used it for this study. All other variants of beams were made only from pine timber. We wanted to test the impact of conditions on beams with a non-standard arrangement because we had not found such tests before. The vast majority of variants that are described in the literature only assume standard GLT arrangements.

Reviewer 1: The loading curves could be provided with the mechanical values (MOR and MOE).

Answer: Unfortunately, at the time of the tests, we did not yet have the software that allowed us to download curves in bending tests. Therefore, we could only analyze the obtained values and not the course of the curves. We agree that this would be a valuable addition to the value and we thank for that suggestion to improve our software.

Rewiever 1: How many samples did you choose for each test? for data analysis ? More details are needed.

Answer: There is an information included in the text that we manufactured 12 full-size beams for each arrangement. 6 beams from every variant were stored in chamber and 6 under the roof outside. However, we added a clear information about the number of repetitions in a description of MOR/MOE methodology. We also added the number of measuring points for moisture content determinations. Thank you for this suggestion.

Rewiever 1: How did you adjust the temperature and moisture content? Is it simultaneous? More details should be provided. 

Answer: We added details about the system adjusting the temperature and moisture content during the experiment. Thank you for this suggestion.

Reviewer 2 Report

line 74: explain sharply if the mentioned dimensions are dimensions of one lamella or whole GLT,

line 80: explain shortly how non-destructive method was used,

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 and Fig. 10: the text "Whiskers represent 0.95 confidence intervals" remove from these Figs and restyle it in the statistics (line 155),

Did you provide testing of MOE according EN standard, which No.?

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

thank you very much for your contribution to the quality of our publication. We hope we have provided comprehensive answers to your comments.

Reviewer 2: line 74: explain sharply if the mentioned dimensions are dimensions of one lamella or whole GLT

Answer: It is now specified, thank you for this suggestion.

Reviewer 2: line 80: explain shortly how non-destructive method was used,

Answer: In our opinion, there is no information that has not been included. There are load values, a description of the recorded results, the protocol and a schematic presentation of the test device. In addition, to be sure, a reference to a publication is included in which we discuss the method and the results obtained with its help.

Reviewer 2: Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 and Fig. 10: the text "Whiskers represent 0.95 confidence intervals" remove from these Figs and restyle it in the statistics (line 155),

Answers: The graphs and methodology of statistical analysis are corrected according to your suggestions. Thank you.

Did you provide testing of MOE according EN standard, which No.?

Answer: The number of standard describing the method of GLT’s properties investigations is now included (EN 408:2012). Thank you for this suggestion.