Chauhan, S.2010-03-082010-03-082009Chauhan, S. (2009) Avoiding surprises: fast mass screening for unwanted effects. Christchurch, New Zealand: Revisiting Eucalypts Workshop, 12 Feb 2009.http://hdl.handle.net/10092/3547The two principal challenges in processing many eucalypts are the distortion/warping of timeber during sawing and the subsequent difficulties in drying the timber without significant degrade. Incorporating wood quality traits associated with these challenges in breeding is considered to be a demanding task. In this paper, simple approaches for mass screening for growth stresses, shrinkage, collapse and drying rates have been proposed. Sawing of log or stem along the length through the pith and measuring the outward bending of two half rounds form a quick and reliable method for screening trees with low growth stress. A mathematical model was developed that relates the longitudinal growth stress and bending in half round. Methods for assessment of shrinkage avoiding preparation of precise sized specimens and initial measurements, drying rates from small dimension quarter sawn board, drying deformations using discs have been proposed.enConference Contributions - PublishedFields of Research::300000 Agricultural, Veterinary and Environmental Sciences::300600 Forestry Sciences::300607 Forestry science not elsewhere classifiedFields of Research::290000 Engineering and Technology::291400 Materials Engineering::291405 Timber