Lecture 4:

Log Defects
 OUTLINE
❑ Definition of Log Defects
❑ Methods for computing
log defects
❑ Examples of Log Defects

Photo by VMPTorres_October 16 , 2018

LOG DEFECT
• It is defined as any unsound material or
abnormal shape in a log that reduces its
net volume.
• “Any irregularity or imperfection in a tree,
log, piece, product, or lumber that reduces
the volume of sound wood or lowers its
durability, strength, or utility value.”

Photo by VMPTorres_November 15 , 2017

LOG DEFECT
• Defects could be natural or due to logging.
• Natural defects are those which exist in the
log before the tree is felled (i.e. all kinds of
rot, catface, shakes, checks, sweep, crook, burls
and knots)
• Logging defects are those which generally
occur after the tree is felled.

Photo by VMPTorres_November 15 , 2017

LOG DEFECT
Log defects are further categorized into the following principal forms:

1. Interior Defects – center rot, butt rot, brash

center, heart check, heart shake
2. Surface or Side Defects – catface, knot,
wormy, unsound sap, split
3. Form Defects – crook, sweep, double crook

Photo by VMPTorres_November 15 , 2017

METHODS FOR COMPUTING
LOG DEFECTS
• The four major methods for computing defects are :
• squared defect,
• pie-cut method,
• length deduction and
• diameter deduction.

Photo by VMPTorres_November 15 , 2017

 METHODS FOR COMPUTING DEFECTS
SQUARED DEFECT
1.2m 1.2m

10cm

41cm
35cm
5cm

Digitally redrawn by VMPTorres

This primarily applies for interior defects that lend themselves to being partitioned into a square or rectangle
in area

Source: Fonseca 2005 and https://www.ibsp.idaho.gov/2409.11_30.htm

 METHODS FOR COMPUTING DEFECTS
PIE – CUT METHOD

Digitally redrawn by VMPTorres

This is used for defects that go from the perimeter to the heart area of the log and can best reckoned with by
enclosing the defect in a ‘pie-chart’ sector with a fractional representation for the length affected.

Source: Fonseca 2005 and https://www.ibsp.idaho.gov/2409.11_30.htm

 METHODS FOR COMPUTING DEFECTS
PIE – CUT METHOD
4.9 m
3.0 m

This is used for defects that go from the perimeter to the heart area of the log and can best reckoned with by
enclosing the defect in a ‘pie-chart’ sector with a fractional representation for the length affected.
Digitally redrawn by VMPTorres

Source: Fonseca 2005 and https://www.ibsp.idaho.gov/2409.11_30.htm

 METHODS FOR COMPUTING DEFECTS
LENGTH DEDUCTION METHOD
2m

50cm

This is normally for the defects that cause a loss of volume for all or some of the length affected. This
deduction rule is commonly used when the entire scaling cylinder is deducted or in combination with the
percentage deduction (as above).

Source: Fonseca 2005 and https://www.ibsp.idaho.gov/2409.11_30.htm

 METHODS FOR COMPUTING DEFECTS
DIAMETER DEDUCTION
5m
METHOD
5cm

38cm

Digitally redrawn by VMPTorres

This is used for defects that occur in the perimeter of the log, such as rotten sapwood, surface checks and
twisted grain. This deduction is made by establishing net diameters (under the defective portion of the log).

Source: Fonseca 2005 and https://www.ibsp.idaho.gov/2409.11_30.htm

MATHEMATICAL CALCULATION
OF LOG DEFECTS
1. Butt rot
2. Center rot
3. Cat face
4. Crook

Photo by VMPTorres_November 15 , 2017

1
BUTT ROT
o Also called as stump or ground rot
o It is found only at the butt portions of trees
o Color varies from light brown to dark reddish brown
o Swelling on the outside of a log may be an indication

A log with a butt rot

Illustrated by VMPTorres
BUTT ROT
𝑽𝒅 = 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝒙 𝑳𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒙 𝟒/𝟓
*Cross sectional area for round and irregularly shaped defects

A log with a butt rot

Butt Rot
o For round defect:
𝟐
𝟒 d
𝑽𝒅 = 𝒅 𝑳𝒅 ( )
𝟓
o For irregularly shaped b
defect: 𝟐
𝒂+𝒃 𝟒 a
𝑽𝒅 = 𝑳𝒅 ( )
𝟐 𝟓

Illustrated by VMPTorres
2 CENTER ROT
o
o
Sometimes called as heart, circular, dry or red rot
Rot found in logs cut from any position in a tree
o Color ranges from light brown in its early stage
and dark brown in the advanced stage

A log with center rot

Illustrated by VMPTorres
CENTER ROT
𝑽𝒅 = 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝒙 𝑳𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒈

*Cross sectional area for round and irregularly shaped defects

A log with center rot

Illustrated by VMPTorres
CENTER ROT
o For round defect:
d

𝑽𝒅 = 𝒅𝟐 𝑳
o For irregularly shaped b
defect: 𝟐
𝒂+𝒃 a
𝑽𝒅 = 𝑳
𝟐

Illustrated by VMPTorres
Deductions for Center or Circular Rot
Circular Rot in Terms of Percent to be Deducted
Diameter of Log (Circular rot-
diameter ratio) Round Logs Squared Logs
2/3 57 44
5/8 50 39
3/5 46 36
½ 32 25
2/5 20 16
3/8 18 14
1/3 14 11
3/10 11 9
¼ 8 6
1/5 5 4
1/6 4 3
1/7 3 2
1/8 2 2
1/9 2 1
1/10 1 1
3 CAT FACE
o Scars or wounds, often caused by falling objects scraping
against a tree
o To determine the defective volume: know the extent or
width of defect, length of defect, and depth of defect

Illustrated by VMPTorres
A log with cat face showing the pie-cut method
CAT FACE  Diameter deduction method
𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕
𝑽𝒅 = 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍 × × 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕
𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒈

𝒍𝒅
𝑽𝒅 = 𝑽𝒐𝒔 × × 𝒘𝒅
𝑳

Illustrated by VMPTorres
4 CROOK
o
o
A sudden curve or bend from a straight line
One type is found on logs from the upper portions of trees
o Snow or falling trees that break off tops of other trees can
cause this defect

A crooked log
Illustrated by VMPTorres
CROOK 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕
𝑽𝒅 = × 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒆
𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒈

𝒍𝒅
𝑽𝒅 = × 𝑽𝒈
𝑳

A crooked log Illustrated by VMPTorres

LectureTHANK
4 YOU!
Log Defects Problem Set 3