Wood and it's types interms of Civil Engineering. Wood properties relevant to Civil engineering. Types of Wood. Famous and local wood properties. Uses of wood (For engineering purpose).

1. WOOD AND ITS TYPES
Wood: Wood is the hard-fibrous material that forms the main substanceof the
trunk or branches of a tree or shrub, used for fuel or timber.
-Wood has been used as a building material for thousand of years. Chemical
properties of woods are very complex. However, humans managed to build variety
of structures with wood.
-Wood is a multipurpose material used to build houses, shelters, boats, furniture
and home décor.
Advantage of Wood:
-The biggest advantage of wood being used as a building material is that it is a
natural resourceand therefore, it is easily available and economic as well.
-Provides good insulation from cold.
-Can be easily shaped into any desirable shape.
-It is sustainable, biodegradable and renewable.
-It also does not require a lot of fuel energy for its productionlike other materials
such as, brick, steel or plastic.
-Wood has a good strength.
-Wood is durable.
-Right wood produces less amount of carbon dioxide.
-Environment friendly.
Benefits of Wood in Construction:
-Wood has good thermal properties, it shows good resistance to high temperatures
unlike steel, which expands or even can collapse at high temperatures. Instead,
wood gets dried and becomes more stronger at higher temperatures.
-Heat conductivity of wood is comparatively lower than other materials such as
glass, steel, aluminum or even marble.

2. -Wood shows electrical insulation.
-It has a good tensile strength.
-It absorbs sounds and echoes.
-Aesthetically appealing.
Disadvantages of Wood:
-Wood catches fire.
-Mold, bacteria, fungi and insects causes decay of wood.
-Sun, rain and air causes decay.
-Humid atmosphere causes mold in wood.
-Burning of wood causes greenhouse effect.
Types of Wood:
There are various kinds of wsod, each explained individually below,
1. Teak
2. Dyer
3. Mahogany
4. Canadian
5. Mango
6. Tali
7. Kikar
8. Partal
9. Russian
10.Veneer
11.Sheshum
12.Lasani
13.Chipboard

3. 1.Teak:
Scientific Name: Tectona Grandis.
- It is a tropical hardwood tree species placed in the flowering plant family
Lamiaceae. Tectona grandis is a large, deciduous tree that is widely found in mixed
hardwood forests.
Properties:
-It has high oil content.
-High tensile strength
-Tight grain.
-It is resistant to termite attacks and damage caused by other insects.
-Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5m) trunk diameter.
-Average dried weight: 41lbs/ft3 OR 655kg/m3
-Specific gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.55, 0.66.
Janka Hardness: 1,070 Ib/in2 (97.1Mpa).
-Modulus of Rupture: 14,080 Ib/in2 (97.1Mpa).
-Elastic Modulus: 1,781,000 Ib/in2 (12.28 Gpa).
Uses:
-It is used in the manufacture of outdoorfurniture and boatdecks.
-It is also used for cutting boards, indoor flooring, countertops and as a veneer for
indoor furnishings
-It is used in India to make doors and window frames, furniture, columns and
beams in old type houses.
Cost: 2000-2200 Rs.
2. Dyer:
-It is an ordinary wood used for borders of the cabinet doors and windows.

4. Properties:
-Tree size: 40-60 ft (12-18 m) tall, 1-3 ft (0.3-1m) trunk diameter.
-Average Dried weight: 47 Ibs/ft3 (750 kg/m3).
-Specific gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.60, 0.75.
-Janka hardness: 1,350 Ib (5,990N).
-Modulus of Rupture: 13,070 Ib/in2 (90.1 Mpa).
-Elastic Modulus: 1,495,000 Ib/in2 (10.31 Gpa).
Usage: It is mostly used in cabinet and furniture making.
Cost: 3500-3600 Rs.
3. Mahogany:
-It is the straight-grained, reddish-brown timber of three tropical hardwood species
of the genus Swietenia, indigenous to the Americas.
Scientific Family: It is the part of the pantropical chinaberry family, Meliaceae.
Properties:
-Mahogany has a straight, fine, and even grain.
-It is comparatively free of voids and pockets.
-Its reddish-brown color darkens over time, and displays a reddish shine when
polished.
-It has excellent workability.
-It is very durable.
-It also resists wood decay.
-Tree size: 100-130ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter.
-Specific gravity (basic, 12% MC): 0.52, 0.64.
-Janka hardness: 1,070 Ib (4,760N).

5. -Modulus of rupture: 13,190 Ib/in2 (91.0 Mpa).
-Elastic Modulus: 1,537,000 Ib/in2 (10.60 Gpa).
-Crushing Strength: 7,100 Ib/in2 (49.0 Mpa).
-Shrinkage: Radical: 4.2%, Tangential: 5.7%, Volumetric: 10.0%. T/R Ratio: 1.4.
Uses:
-Used in boat construction.
-Used for furniture.
-Also used for musical instruments, particularly the backs, sides and necks of
acoustic guitars, electric guitar bodies and drum shells.
Cost: 4200-5000 Rs.
4. Canadian:
-As the name specifies, this wood is from Canada.
-It is known for its strength and durability.
Properties:
-Tree size: 65-100 ft (30m) tall, 2-3ft (0.6-1m) trunk diameter.
-Average dried weight: 28 Ibs/ft3 (450kg/m3).
-Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.36, 0.45.
-Janka hardness: 500 Ibf (2,220N).
-Modulus of rupture: 8,900 Ibf/in2 (61.4 Mpa).
-Elastic Modulus: 1,200,000 Ibf/in2 (8.28 Gpa).
Uses:
-It is used for furniture, cabinets and paneling.
Cost: 3000-3500 Rs.

6. 5. Mango:
-The tree is more known for its fruit rather than for its timber.
-The wood is susceptible (defenseless) to damage from fungi and insects
Properties:
-Tree size: 80-100 ft (24-30 m) tall, 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m) trunk diameter.
-Average Dried Weight: 42 Ibs/ft3 (675kg/m3)
-Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.52, 0.68.
-Janka hardness: 1,070 Ib (4,780N).
-Modulus of rupture: 12,830 Ib/in2 (88.5 Mpa).
-Elastic Modulus: 1,672,000 Ib/in2 (11.53 Gpa).
-Crushing Strength: 7,240 Ib/in2 (49.9 Mpa).
Uses:
-The wood is used for musical instruments such as ukuleles.
-Plywood and low-cost furniture.
Cost: 4000-4500 Rs.
6. Tali:
-Belongs to Leguminosae family.
-Its trade name is Tali,
Properties:
-Bending Strength: 23,883 psi or 1679 kg/cm2.
-Density: 60 Ibs/ft3 or 961 kg/m3.
-Janka Hardness: 2920.
-Hardness: 2087 Ibs or 946kg.
-Maximum Crushing Strength: 11,494 psior 808 kg/cm2.
-Shearing strength: 2132 psi or 149kg/cm2.

7. -Stiffness: 2,234,000 psior157,000 kg/cm2.
-Radial Shrinkage: 4%.
-Tangential shrinkage: 7%.
-Volumetric Shrinkage: 12%
Uses:
-Used in Flooring, railway sleepers, harbor and dockwork, turnings, construction
and bridges.
-It is also used in boat building and marine construction.
Cost: 1000 Rs. Sq ft.
7.Kikar:
-Kikar is a small thorny tree. It grows to the height of 7 – 12 meter.
-It has yellow round head flowers which are nectar less. The bark is red -brown to
blackish and rough.
-Other names used for Kikar are, Cape Gum, Cassie, Piquants Blancs, Cassie
Piquants Blancs, CockspurThorn, Deo-Babool, Doorn Boom, Kaludai, Karroo
Thorn, Kikar, Mormati, Pahari Kikar and Pahari Kikar.
-Kikar is widely found in India.
Properties:
-It is highly durable.
-It is resistant against termites.
-Tree size: 30-50 ft (10-15 m) tall, 2-3 ft (0.6-1.0 m) trunk diameter.
-Average Dried Weight: 72 Ibs/ft3 (1,160 kg/m3)
-Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.91, 1.16.
-Janka hardness: 3,590 Ib (15,970N).
-Modulus of rupture: 22,910 Ib/in2 (158.0 Mpa).
-Elastic Modulus: 2,712,000 Ib/in2 (18.70 Gpa).

8. -Crushing Strength: 11,790 Ib/in2 (81.3 Mpa).
Usage:
-Widely used for timber and firework.
-It is introduced and cultivated for erosion and fuel wood.
Cost: 200 Rs.
8.Partal:
Scientific name: Abies pindrow
-It is a large, straight and evergreen tree.
-It is found natively in east Asia, Himalayas including Pakistan.
-In Pakistan, it is available in hilly areas such as Murre, Hazara, Chitral etc.
Properties:
-Partal is very light and soft wood.
-It has low compressive and bending strength.
-It cannot resist the attack of fungi and insects.
-it is very workable but needs extra care.
-Tree size: 40-65 ft (12-20 m) tall, 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m) trunk diameter.
-Average Dried Weight: 25 Ibs/ft3 (400kg/m3)
-Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.33, 0.40.
-Janka hardness: 400Ib (1,780N).
-Modulus of rupture: 8,800 Ib/in2 (60.7 Mpa).
-Elastic Modulus: 1,387,000 Ib/in2 (9.57 Gpa).
-Crushing Strength: 5,000 Ib/in2 (34.5 Mpa).
-Shrinkage: Radical: 2.9%, Tangential: 6.9%, Volumetric: 11.2%. T/R ratio: 2.4.

9. Uses:
-It can be used for making cheap furniture, plywood, model making.
-Used in light construction.
-Used in the making of cheap doors and windows.
-Also used for making boxes and packing cases.
Cost: 1000-1200 Rs. Sq ft.
9. Russian:
-Its color ranges from a light yellowish brown to a darker golden brown,
sometimes with a greenish hue.
-Sapwood is much lighter yellow.
Properties:
--Tree size: 20-35 ft (6-10 m) tall, 1 ft (3 m) trunk diameter.
-Average Dried Weight: 43 Ibs/ft3 (685kg/m3)
-Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.55, 0.69.
-Janka hardness: 1,240 Ib (5,530N).
Usage:
-Used in knife scales, bowls, pens and in other small woodturning projects.
Cost: 600-700 Rs.
10. Veneer:
-Veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm (1/8 inch), that
typically are glued onto corepanels (typically, wood, particle board or medium-
density fiberboard) to produceflat panels such as doors, tops and panels for
cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture.
Properties:
-Veneer is very stable and good in strength.

10. -It is sustainable.
-Veneer is made of thin layers of wood glued together due to which chances of
splitting or cracking are reduced.
-The glue used provides additional strength, making the end result stronger than
natural wood.
-Standard Size: 1220x2440mm
-Thickness: 6-30mm
-Density: 710-850kgs/m3
-Material: Poplar, Eucalyptus, Hardwood, Birch, etc
-Surface: Peeling 0.3mm - 1.2mm, Slicing 0.2mm - 0.8mm
-Glue: E0, E1, E2, Melamine, WBP
-Moisture: 8-14%
Uses:
-Used in doors, panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture.
-Used for architectural purposes.
Cost: 1200-1500 Rs.
11.Shesham:
-It is a large and deciduous tree.i
Scientific Name: Dalbergia Sissoo.
-It is natively found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Iraq and Indonesia.
-In Pakistan, it is available in Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan and N.W.F.P.
-Widely cultivated in Artificial Forests.
Properties:
-It is highly durable.
-It is prone to be attacked by bores and fungi.
-It is ring porous and dull in luster.

11. -It has a high crushing strength.
--Tree size: 35-65 ft (10-20 m) tall, 2-3 ft (0.6-1 m) trunk diameter.
-Average Dried Weight: 48 Ibs/ft3 (770 kg/m3)
-Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.63, 0.77.
-Janka hardness: 1,660 Ib (7,380N).
-Modulus of rupture: 14,140 Ib/in2 (97.5 Mpa).
-Elastic Modulus: 1,508,000 Ib/in2 (10.40 Gpa).
-Crushing Strength: 8,050 Ib/in2 (55.5 Mpa).
-Shrinkage:Radical: 3.1%, Tangential: 5.3%, Volumetric: 8.4%. T/R ratio: 1.8.
Uses:
-Used for furniture in cabinet making.
-Used in veneer, joinery, plywood and carpentry.
- Can be utilized for agricultural implements, flooring and turning articles.
Cost: 1000-1500 Rs.
12. Lasani:
-Lasani wood shows a remarkable resistance to termite and fungus, making the
woodwork to last long.
-Maintains irs shape in all weathers.
Properties and Uses:
-The even distribution of fibers throughout the thickness of the sheet allows perfect
edge shaping, machining and carving.
-Greater dimensional stability provides resistance during atmospheric changes i.e.
resistance towards moisture and termite attack.
-Its fine smooth surface gives perfect finishes, veneering, melamine, lacquering,
PVC, painting, printing or lamination.
-Lasani can be worked upon with any type of conventional tools and shows
excellent machinability.

12. -Lasani Wood is available in simple board form and can be used like the finest
seasoned timber and finished to your choice.
Cost: 700 Rs.
13.Chipboard:
-It is made up of small chips of wood bonded together with resin and formed into
sheets by compression
Properties:
-It is not as strong as plywood and block board.
-It is not expensive.
Uses:
-It is often covered with a plastic laminate (a thin layer) or wood veneer and used
in furniture.
Cost: 600-700 sheet 8 by 4.
(THE END)