Multivariate modeling of acoustomechanical response of 14-year-old suppressed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) to variation in wood chemistry, microfibril angle and density

The polymeric angle and concentration within the S-2 layer of the softwood fiber cell wall are very critical for molecular and microscopic properties that influence strength, stiffness and acoustic velocity of wood at the macroscopic level. The main objective of this study was to elucidate the effect of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, microfibril angle and density on acoustic velocity and material mechanical properties of 14-year-old suppressed loblolly pine. Cellulose, hemicellulose and density are consistently the most important drivers of strength, stiffness and velocity. Cellulose and lignin are the highest and lowest contributor to velocity, respectively, with lignin acting as a sound wave dispersant, while cellulose is the most important conductor of sound wave at the molecular level, while hemicellulose acts as a special coupling agent between these components. The polymeric constituents are thus important drivers of sound wave propagation at the molecular level, while density played a subsequent role at the macroscale.