PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF STRUCTURAL WOOD USED IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Six species of wood (Vachellia nilotica,Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Ziziphus mauritiana, Albizia lebbeck, Melia azedarach, Dalbergia sissoo)weretested in compression and tension parallel to the grain. The specimens were collected from different areas of Pakistan. Thecompressive strengths,tension parallel to grain and hardness of the woodwere determined by testing rectangular shape wooden specimens(ASTM D143 2014, Janka 1906). Itwas observed that compressive and tensile strength of Vachllia niloticaparallel to the grain is higher thanother species whereas, Eucalyptus camaldulensishardness behaviour along radial and tangential surface is higher among the wooden samples tested.