Scientific publications

This study provides some information about the degree of bacterial degradation in pine waterside structures that have been in service for 75 years in running fresh water. It was revealed that 71% of pine heartwood samples were damaged to a weak or moderate degree and 5% were degraded severely and, therefore bacterial degradation of wood in anoxic conditions was underestimated before. The results proved the idea that water movement in the waterlogged structures is a key factor that stimulates bacterial wood degradation. The obtained patterns of bacterial degradation throughout the whole length of a mooring beam showed that head beams can be regarded as a representative of the whole element. It was concluded that the mooring beams under consideration can serve for at least 50 years more.