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CIVN 4000 Timber As A Structural Material: Presented by Esina T Ndoro
CIVN 4000 Timber As A Structural Material: Presented by Esina T Ndoro
Source:http://www.grida.no/graphicslib/detail/number-of-tree-species-per-country-in-the-world_11a4#
Timber
• Wood is the porous and fibrous structural tissue found in
the stems and roots of trees and other plants.
– The term wood may also refer to other plant materials with comparable
properties and engineered materials such wood chips and fibres.
Wood unsuitable
for structural
timber (30-40%)
Source: http://www.infovisual.info/01/002_en.html
Timber
• The elemental composition of wood varies from one tree
species to another.
– It consists of approximately C (50%), O (42%), H(6%), N (1%), and other
elements (1%) i.e. Ca, K, Na, Mg, Fe, S, Cl, Si and P.
Growth Transverse
rings surface
Inner bark
Source: http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/607298/trunk
Timber
Source:http://www.ggi-myanmar.com/wood/
Source:http://grandpacliff.com/Plants/Glossary-Plants.htm
Timber
Structure of wood
• Timber has a relatively high Energy/Stiffness and Strength/weight ratio
of construction materials
strength to weight ratio and
low energy to stiffness ratio.
10000 30
9000
7000
less natural resources are 6000
20
2000
other construction 1000
5
materials. 0 0
Timber
Hard and soft wood
• Wood is classified as either hardwood or softwood based on
its biology and not strength hence timber is too.
– Softwoods are not necessarily softer than hardwoods, in both groups
there is an enormous variation in actual wood hardness.
Comes from deciduous trees ; trees are Comes from coniferous trees which usually have needles
usually broad-leaved. Has vessel and cones. Medullary rays and tracheid transport water
elements that transport water and produce sap. When viewed under a microscope,
Definition throughout the wood; under a softwoods have no visible pores because of tracheid.
microscope, these elements appear as About 80% of all timber comes from softwood.
pores.
Examples of hardwood trees include Examples of softwood trees are cedar, Douglas fir, juniper,
Examples alder, balsa, beech, hickory, mahogany, pine, redwood, spruce, and yew.
maple, oak, teak, and walnut.
Hardwood is typically more expensive Softwood is typically less expensive compared to
Cost
than softwood. hardwood.
Growth Hardwood has a slow growth rate. Softwood has a fast rate of growth.
Hardwoods shed their leaves seasonally Softwoods tend to keep their needles throughout the year.
Shedding of leaves
i.e. in autumn and winter.
www.blog.carbideprocessors.com
Timber
Sawing
• Plain/through and through sawn timber has its 'face' (the
wide surface) cut at a tangent to the growth rings. So the
'edge' (the narrow surface) cuts across the growth rings like a
radius.
• Quarter sawn timber has its face cut radially and the edge is
tangential.
• Rift sawn timber is cut radially such that the faces are at right
angles to the growth rings.
www.aboutcivil.org
Source: https://nationalvetcontent.edu.au
www.horizon-custom-homes.com
Timber
Shrinkage and Seasoning
• Green timber is wood that has been recently cut/felled and
has not had the opportunity to dry/season (evaporation of
the internal moisture).
– Green wood is considered to have 100% moisture content relative to
seasoned wood which is considered to between 18% and 20%.
– During seasoning significant shrinkage in observed following the reduction
of the moisture content to levels below the fibre saturation point (35-25%
moisture reduction).
• Water in timber resides between the fibres (free water) and in the cell structure
(bound water).
– Timber will change dimensions during seasoning depending on the
atmospheric humidity/moisture content, and the changes are known as
movement.
– Timber will shrink at different rates depending on its width, thickness, and
how it was sawn/ cut e.g. a back sawn timber member will shrink about
twice as much across its face in comparison to quarter sawn member.
• If a structure is sensitive to shrinkage timber used must be sawn in manner that
reduces shrinkage.
Timber
Shrinkage and seasoning
• Seasoning is the name given to the methods of drying timber
i.e. natural drying or air drying, and artificial drying i.e. kiln
drying
– Timber can be dried to any desired moisture content by conventional or solar
kiln drying, but in air drying, moisture contents of less than 18% are difficult to
attain.
• Average shrinkage/Transverse –
(tangential and radial
shrinkage)/2.
– It is taken into consideration during
structural design as most timber is saw
intermediate between tangential and
radial positions.
Timber
Shrinkage and seasoning
Source:http://grandpacliff.com/Plants/Glossary-Plants.htm
Source:http://www.ggi-myanmar.com/wood/
Timber
Shrinkage and seasoning
Source:http://waywardspark.com/homestead-logging-and-milling/
Timber
Shrinkage and seasoning
• Artificial drying/Kiln drying – involves the use of heat to
season timber.
– Heat can either be direct using natural gas and/or electricity, or
indirectly through steam-heated heat exchangers or solar energy.
• temperature, humidity and air circulation are controlled to provide for conditions
that are suitable for effective drying
• kiln drying provides a means of overcoming the limitations of erratic weather
conditions and almost all commercial timbers of the world are dried in industrial
kilns.
• Benefits of Kiln drying include:
– dimensional stability and less risk of distortion
– fungi and moulds cannot survive on dried timber
– improved penetration of preservatives and a smoother finish after machining
– improved performance of finishes such as paints and stains
– improved insulation and strength
– drying times are considerably less in conventional kiln drying than in solar kiln
drying, followed by air-drying.
• Disadvantages
– Capital investment in setting –up and maintenance are significant .
Timber
Shrinkage and seasoning
Conventional Kiln
Source: http://www.nzdl.org/gsdlmod?e=d-00000-00---off-0hdl--00-
0----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---00-0-
Source: http://www.jonathan-guest.co.uk/solar-kiln.htm
1-00-0-0-11-1-0utfZz-8-
10&a=d&cl=CL1.1&d=HASH70c81f6386a2600bdfdd3f.3.14
Timber
Treatment and preservation
• When timber is exposed to moisture at levels above 20%
it is susceptible to attack by fungi and insects.
• Timber preservation - is the pressure or thermal
impregnation of chemicals into timber to provide
effective long-term resistance to attack by fungi, bacteria
or insects.
– This improves its service life to between 5 to 10 times longer than
untreated wood.
Source:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~woodwork
website/matwood/defects.htm
Source:www.greenspec.co.uk-560
Timber
Defects
Splits, checks/shakes
Source:www.woodmagazine.com-
Source:
http://homepage.eircom.net/~woodwork
website/matwood/defects.htm
Timber
Defects
• Man-made defects in timber are a result of handling and
processing i.e.
– Seasoning defects - occur due to uneven drying resulting in warping,
twisting cupping, cracks/end splits, honey combing and cracks.
– Sawing defects such as chip marks, torn grain etc.
source:http://homepage.eircom.net/~woodworkwebsite/matwood/defects2.html
Timber
Movement
• Timber movement – timber expands and contracts in direct
proportion with increase or decrease in moisture content.
– Timber is hygroscopic and it releases or absorbs moisture to maintain
equilibrium between itself and the medium it is in contact with e.g.
air/water.
Resources
• http://www.ibtimes.com/how-wood-high-rises-could-save-planet-
1575562
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uHJ1Fu-jWk
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvUPJPFg4wM
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVBsA1KbfY8
Bamboo
Source:www.bamboogarden.com-
Source:http://www.guaduabamboo.com/construction/bamboo-
parking-garage-the-hague
Source:civilengineerskatta.blogspot.com-550 × 325-Search by image
Bamboo
• Bamboo is one of the oldest structural materials traditionally
used in Asia and South America.
– Bamboo grows in tropical and subtropical regions which include parts
of Asia, South America and Africa.
– Bamboo is a flowering perennial evergreen grass and it is considered a
forestry product in countries where it is utilised as a construction
material.
– There are over 1400 species of bamboo and some species are the
fastest-growing plants in the world.
• Some species grow at rates of 0.00003 km/h = 3cm/hr =0.5mm/min