Characterization of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Branch, Stem and Root Wood of Iroko and Emire Tropical Trees

M. Amoah ； J. Appiah-Yeboahand ； R. Okai

《Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology》 4卷12期 (2012/06) Pp. 1755-1761

並列摘要

This study investigated the physical and mechanical properties of branch, stem and root wood of iroko (＂Milicia excelsa＂) and emire (＂Terminalia ivorensis＂). The basic density, MOE and MOR were determined in accordance with BS 373:1957. Fifty samples from the wood types of each species were used for each test. The study showed that the root wood of iroko and emire exhibited the highest basic density of 760 and 620 kg/m3, respectively, while the basic densities of the branch and stem wood of emire (537 kg/m^3) were comparable. The differences in the MOE values among the wood types of iroko and emire were found to be statistically insignificant. The MOR value of the branch wood of emire (73 MPa) was found to be significantly higher than that of the stem wood (71 MPa). However, there was no significant difference between the MOR values of the branch and stem wood of iroko (67 MPa). Basic density of all wood types was found to be a good predictor of MOE in static. With exception of the root wood of emire, significant but low correlations were found for the regression relationships between MOE and MOR. For the emire stem wood, MOE explained about 41% of the variation in the MOR of that wood type. The study concludes that it is possible to substitute the branch and root wood of iroko and emire for stem wood in many applications.

並列關鍵字

Basic density ； compression parallel to grain ； density ； modulus of elasticity ； modulus of rupture ； utilization