Structure and properties of Sri Lankan eucalyptus and pine wood

Abstract

Eucalyptus an d Pine timber in Sri Lanka are presently used f or limited purposes. Therefore, other uses such as engineering structural construction, furniture manufacture, parquetry, etc. should be investigated. In order to develop these for multitudinous purposes, al l information of the essential mechanical an d physical properties must be available.

Nine species were tested. They were Eucalyptus microcorys, Eucalyptus pilularis, Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus robusta, Eucalyptus citriodora, Pinus patula, Pinus insularis an d Pinus caribaea.

Five tree s from each specie s were selected for the preparation of sticks. These sticks were use d t o make test specimens.

These specimens were subjected to the mechanical an d physical tests on the green timber (25% moisture content) and seasoned timber (15% moisture content). The microstructure, especially the cell s and their types, sizes and arrangements, of each specie s was observed. Properties of these specie s in relation to their structure were the n studied.

Suitability of these timbers for building construction, railway sleepers, transmission poles, furniture manufacture, panelling, etc. were investigated.