Report
Performance Assessment of New and Aged Vineyard CCA Treated Timber Posts
University of the Sunshine Coast
2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25907/00990
Abstract
The viticulture industry in Australia, has millions of end-of-life (EOL) preservative treated timber posts which have been removed from vineyards either because they break during harvest at the soil interface or because the trellis they support is being upgraded or removed. Most winegrape growers stockpile these posts on site however they can potentially be reused or recycled. To determine how these EOL vineyard posts can be reused as part of a circular economy (CE) the condition and strength of the posts need greater understanding.
As part of the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life (NCTDDL), the Timber Circularity Project funded by the FWPA and industry partners, has quantified this resource in terms of numbers and assessed the treatment level for reuse in outdoor applications. This study aimed to assess whether reclaimed vineyard posts possess sufficient strength and stiffness for repurposing as smaller agricultural posts or other low-stress outdoor applications
The mechanical performance of a limited sample of EOL and new CCA-treated vineyard timber posts have been examined through comprehensive structural testing to determine the possibility for extending the life of the posts in further applications. Key parameters, such as density, maximum load, maximum displacement, Modulus of Elasticity (MoE), and Modulus of Rupture (MoR), were analysed to evaluate the suitability of the reclaimed posts for reuse.
The report outlines the assumptions and limitations of the testing as well as the findings, which show that despite some degradation the reclaimed posts retain the strength and stiffness required for agricultural fencing. Further research with larger sample sizes, known initial densities, and timber species data is recommended to support these findings and explore broader reuse potential in a transition to a circular economy.
Details
- Title
- Performance Assessment of New and Aged Vineyard CCA Treated Timber Posts
- Authors
- Zidi Yan - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, National Centre for Timber Durability and Design LifeLuis Yermán MartinezPenelope Mitchell - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, National Centre for Timber Durability and Design LifeMartin Strandgard - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Industries Research CentreTripti Singh - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life
- Publication details
- 26 pages
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date published
- 2025
- DOI
- 10.25907/00990
- Grant note
- Funded by Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA).
- Organisation Unit
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life; Forest Industries Research Centre
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991128905402621
- Output Type
- Report
Metrics
29 File views/ downloads
80 Record Views