RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a densidade básica da madeira e simular o comportamento em uso de pisos maciços produzidos com madeiras de cinco espécies tropicais: Dipteryx odorata (cumaru), Handroanthus spp. (ipê), Hymenaea courbaril (jatobá), Astronium lecointei (muiracatiara) e Bowdichia virgilioides (sucupira-preta). Nos testes de simulação foram realizados os ensaios de impacto da esfera de aço cadente, de atrito estático e dinâmico, de endentação causada por cargas aplicadas em pequenas áreas, de carga rolante e de abrasividade. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância e ao teste de Tukey, a 5% de significância, e realizou-se a correlação de Pearson entre a densidade básica e os índices de cada ensaio de simulação de pisos. A densidade básica dos pisos de madeira das espécies avaliadas variou de 0,735 a 0,958 g·cm-3, sendo as madeiras de D. odorata, Handroanthus spp. e H. courbaril classificadas como pesadas e as de A. lecointei e B. virgilioides como moderadamente pesadas. Foi possível indicar os pisos de D. odorata, Handroanthus spp., H. courbaril e B. virgilioides para ambientes com tráfego intenso, onde há o arraste ou a queda de objetos, como indústrias e empresas. Já o piso de A. lecointei pode ser utilizado em ambientes residenciais, com tráfego leve, onde as cargas exercidas sejam baixas. Houve correlação entre a densidade básica da madeira e os ensaios de simulação dos pisos em uso.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the basic density of the wood and to simulate the performance of flooring produced with wood from five tropical species: Dipteryx odorata (Cumaru), Handroanthus spp. (Ipê), Hymenaea Courbaril (Jatobá), Astronium Lecointei (Muiracatiara), and Bowdichia virgilioides (Sucupira-Preta). Falling steel sphere, static and dynamic friction, indentation caused by loads applied in small areas, rolling load, and abrasiveness impact tests were simulated. The results were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey’s test at 5% significance, and Pearson’s correlation was performed between the basic density and the indexes of each flooring. The basic density of the wood flooring made from the evaluated species ranged from 0.735 to 0.958 g.cm-3. D. odorata, Handroanthus spp. and H. courbaril woods were classified as heavy, while those of A. Lecointei and B. Virgilioides as moderately heavy. It was possible to indicate D. odorata, Handroanthus spp., H. courbaril, and B. Virgilioides flooring for environments with intense traffic where there is dragging or falling objects such as industries and companies. The A. Lecointei flooring can be used in residential environments with light traffic, where the loads exerted are low. There was a correlation between the basic wood density and the flooring use simulation tests.

ABSTRACT Many wood species have been employed as floorings, however their performance can vary greatly according to the wood properties and the type of application. Mechanical tests can be performed for simulating the wood floorings in service, but there are no standards for sorting the materials according to their quality as flooring. In this study, the tests carried out in commercial wood species to simulate the performance as flooring and propose a standard of classes resistance. Thus, the performance as wood flooring of Bowdichia nitida Benth (Spr.), Dipteryx odorata (aubl.) Willd, Mimosa scabrella Benth and Tabebuia impetiginosa in service were investigated. These commercial woods flooring were submitted to the falling ball, rolling load, floor surface indentation from small area loads and static and dynamic friction tests. The indentations caused were measured by micrometer coupled to a computer. According to the wood flooring performance in the simulation tests three resistance classes were established: high for indentations lower than 0.005 mm in floor surface indentation from small area loads, intermediate for depressions from 0.121 to 0.300 mm in rolling load test, and low for depressions higher than 0.301 in falling ball test. These classes can be used for predicting the performance, as wood flooring, of lesser known species.