The durability, chemical and mechanical properties of 40 years old black locust posts

Lesar, Boštjan (author), Vek, Viljem (author), Malik, Jernej (author), Levanič, Jaka (author), Keržič, Eli (author), Humar, Miha (author)

This study investigated the performance of 40-year-old black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) posts, previously employed in a vineyard. Wood from these posts was compared with wood from recently harvested wood to assess their potential for reuse. Visual inspection, hyperspectral imaging, chemical analysis and laboratory tests were utilised to evaluate decay, density, mechanical properties and extractive content. The older posts exhibited superior mechanical properties compared to the newly harvested wood. The older posts noted a higher density, indicating their superior quality. The heartwood of old black locust posts contained more extractives and phenolic compounds than the recently harvested wood. Minimal decay was revealed, classifying the wood into durability classes 1 or 2. No difference was observed in the inherent durability between the older and recent wood. The findings of this research demonstrate that 40-year-old black locust posts maintain exceptional durability and mechanical properties, rendering them suitable for reuse in outdoor applications.

• Language: English
• Keywords: wooden posts, vineyard, wood, decay, mechanical properties, polyphenols
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 1-9
• Numbering: Vol. 23, iss. dec., [art. no.] e05221
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-174217
• UDC: 630*8
• ISSN on article: 2214-5095
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2025.e05221
• COBISS.SI-ID: 250980611
• Publication date in RUL: 30.09.2025

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: leseni koli, vinogradi, Robinia pseudoacacia, les, razkroj, mehanske lastnosti, polyphenols