PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF <em>TRILEPISIUM</em> <em>MADAGASCARIENSE</em> AND <em>FUNTUMIA</em> <em>ELASTICA</em> WOOD

Abstract

OYAGADE, A. O. & FASULU, S. A. 2005. Physical and mechanical properties of
Trilepisium madagascariense and Funtumia elastica wood. The physical and mechanical
properties of two lesser-known tree species, namely Trilepisium madagascariense and Funtumia elastica, were examined. The properties investigated were wood density,
shrinkage in the radial, tangential and longitudinal directions, modulus of elasticity,
modulus of rupture, ultimate compressive strength parallel to the grain and shear
strength parallel to the grain. The tests were carried out in accordance with BS 373.
The average values of the properties evaluated for T. madagascariense and F. elastica
respectively were as follows: density—569 and 457 kg m-3, radial shrinkage—5.6 and
4.5%, tangential shrinkage—10.2 and 8.8%, longitudinal shrinkage—0.3 and 0.6%,
modulus of rupture—160.4 and 94.4 N mm-2, modulus of elasticity—6416 and
6158 N mm-2, compressive strength parallel to grain—41.2 and 30.8 N mm-2
and shear strength parallel to grain—12.9 and 11.8 N mm-2. Generally, wood density and mechanical properties of the two species decreased significantly with height while shrinkage properties increased