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IRTTEC 2020 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1793 (2021) 012062 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1793/1/012062

Static Bending Performance of Mengkulang and Kasai LVL

Beam in Structural Size

Tan Khai Kim1, a, Nur Ilya Farhana Md Noh1, b, Norshariza Md Bhkari2, c, Zakiah
Ahmad3, d, Lum Wei Chen2,e, Mohd Shafee Harun2,f, Ng Jing Lin1,g
1
Faculty of Engineering and Built Technology, Civil Engineering Department, UCSI
University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2
Institute for Infrastructure Engineering and Sustainability Management, Universiti
Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Selangor, Malaysia
3
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Selangor,
Malaysia

a
tkk0217@hotmail.com, b ilya@ucsiuniversity.edu.my, c nshariza@uitm.edu.my , d
zakiah@uitm.edu.my, e weichen9557@uitm.edu.my, f mohdshafee@uitm.edu.my, g
ngjl@ucsiuniversity.edu.my
Abstract. The scarcity of good quality timber initiates the timber industry shift to engineered
timber products. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) promising high strength and more
dimensionally stable as well as flexible compared to conventional timber components.
However, most of the previous studies focus on softwood timber, and limited species utilized
tropical timber. Thus, this study assessed the static bending performance of LVL produced
from Malaysian tropical hardwoods, namely Mengkulang (Heritiera spp.) and Kasai (Pometia
spp.) in structural size. A four-point bending test was conducted in accordance with BS EN
408:2010+A1:2012. The effect of loading direction in edgewise to the bending test sample are
performed and evaluated in parallel and perpendicular to the timber grain. In this study, Kasai
samples displayed higher bending strength in MOR and MOE values than Mengkulang
samples. By grain directions, samples with grain parallel to span performed better in MOR and
MOE values as compared to the perpendicular grain samples for both timber species.
Keywords. Bending performance; edgewise direction; grain direction; Laminated veneer
Lumber (LVL); tropical timber

1. Introduction
Timber is considered as one of the oldest building materials and was used primarily as a construction
material. The features of timber such as its environmentally friendly, durable and renewable quality
maintained its popularity as a choice when it comes to creating buildings and furnishings [1].
However, limitations on usage of timber as a building material exist due to the natural properties and
characteristics of timber, such as its sensitivity towards different external condition, highly variable
properties, and so on [2][16], considering Malaysia as a tropical country characterized by intense
localized precipitation [17]. Hence, the emergence of engineered wood product, which is
manufactured by the application of adhesive to bind the veneers or fibers of wood to produce a
composite wood material, has reduced the application limitation of timber in construction field.
Modification of timber materials into LVL, a type of engineered wood product made up of laminated
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IRTTEC 2020 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1793 (2021) 012062 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1793/1/012062

parallel grain of veneers bonded to achieve lumber thickness may disperse wood natural defects and
improve stiffness and strength [3-4].

Laminated veneer lumber, LVL is an engineered wood product produced by peeling of logs
and lamination of veneers using glue, which is highly effective in dispersing the natural defects of
sawn timber [3]. LVL is able to substitute sawn timber in numerous applications, such as to be
applied as rafters, joists, beams, and other structural elements [5]. Performance of LVL in bending is
deemed to be superior, as the static bending properties of LVL created using low grade veneers were
found to be similar to LVL created using high grade veneers such as pine and spruce [6]. A research
had proved the reliability in strength of LVL with the increase in the number of ply of the LVL [7].
Meanwhile, researches on the performance of LVL in bending in different loading directions, namely
edgewise and flatwise, and also in different grain directions, namely grain parallel and perpendicular
to grain, are few, and hence the performances of LVL in the mentioned conditions are not well-
known.
The loading directions of LVL beams in edgewise direction had performed better in bending
strength and stiffness as compared to LVL beams loaded at flatwise direction [8]. Grain direction also
plays a role in affecting the mechanical properties of the LVL beam. The beams can be loaded at face
grain parallel to span, and perpendicular to span [9]. Timber structural members which includes LVL
beam at different directions of face grain have different strength. Static bending performance is the
measure of the strength of a timber material as a beam [10]. Beams are dominantly stressed in bending.
The modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) values of a timber material as a
beam are important indicator of its competency in flexural properties [11]. The static performance or
bending strength of a timber material may be presented as MOR, which it is a measure of the strength
of the timber specimen prior to rupture, as well as presented as MOE, which is the resistance of the
timber specimen to be elastically deformed during the application of stress, or the measurement of
stiffness of the timber material [12].
In order to enhance the knowledge towards the LVL, the purpose of this study is to determine
the strength performance under bending for edgewise loading direction with considering two
different grain direction effects particularly parallel and perpendicular directions produced from
Malaysian tropical hardwoods namely Mengkulang and Kasai.

2. Methodology and Experimental Setup

In order to determine the static bending performance of LVL, four-point bending test was conducted
in accordance with BS EN 408:2010+A1:2012. Test samples were arranged in edgewise loading
direction and the loading was performed at two different grain directions which are at the parallel and
perpendicular grain directions. Two timber species from tropical Malaysian timber were selected to
manufacture as LVL panel, namely Mengkulang (SG5) and Kasai (SG4). LVL panels were prepared
at the manufacturing factory in Perak with the panel size of 1200mm x 2400mm. The panels were
fabricated with 2.4mm veneer thickness which produced 22-ply of LVL.
The LVL panels were then cut into structural size test specimen dimensions of 60mm x
50mm x 1080mm (depth x thickness x length). Before conducting the bending test, the overall
dimensions and initial masses of the samples were measured for density and moisture content. The
setup of the four-point bending test was presented in Fig. 1.

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IRTTEC 2020 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1793 (2021) 012062 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1793/1/012062

Fig. 1 Four-point Bending Test Setup (BS EN 408:2010+A1:2012)

A stand was installed on the sample during testing to place the Linear Variable Differential
Transformers (LVDT) for local deflection determination as shown in Figure 1. DT3 and DT4 were
placed below the loading to monitor the uniformity of the loading operation, whereas DT1 was placed
at the center bottom of the sample to obtain global deflection reading, and DT2 placed at the stand
screwed at sample’s neutral axis to obtain local deflection reading.
During the static bending test, the data to be recorded were the deflection data through the
LVDTs and load data through the 250kN load cell mounted on the actuator. The hydraulic cylinder
piston was adjusted to load the samples at a constant rate till achievement of maximum load.
Accordance with BS EN 408:2010+A1:2012, the maximum load must be achieved within (300
± 120) seconds. The constant recording of the load readings was done digitally through data
acquisition system until the test sample was totally failed. The ultimate loading and deflection borne
by the test specimens were recorded as Pmax and 𝛿𝑚𝑎𝑥 , respectively which then the local MOE,
global MOE, and MOR of the specimens were determined. The failure mode of test sample was
marked after the test.

3. Result and Discussion

Oven dry method was used to determine the moisture contents of the samples; the densities of the
samples were determined using measurement and weighing method. The mentioned properties of the
LVL samples are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1 Physical Properties of the LVL Samples

Content (%)
Local MOE
Direction

Moisture
(N/mm2)

(N/mm2)

(N/mm2)

Density
(kg/m3)
Species

Global
Grain

MOR

MOE

∥ 55.618 903.373 9973.240 591.816 10.286

Mengkulang (2.4mm)
⊥ 10.046 145.063 1601.490 579.663 10.070
∥ 71.965 1090.935 12043.918 675.917 10.916
Kasai (2.4mm)
⊥ 14.993 214.183 2364.581 647.486 10.811
Note: ∥: Grain parallel to span; ⊥: Grain perpendicular to span

From Table 1, it is observed that all LVL samples produced from Kasai (2.4mm) possessed

3
 IRTTEC 2020 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1793 (2021) 012062 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1793/1/012062

higher densities than Mengkulang (2.4mm) LVL samples. It is expected that the Kasai (2.4mm)
samples would possess higher strength than the other samples due to its high densities, as a timber
sample’s strength is commonly assumed to be linear to its density [13]. It is also noted that in the
table, the moisture contents of the samples were kept below 19%, which this indicates that the LVL
samples were all seasoned or dried instead of in green timber condition [1].
Table 1 above shows that the highest MOR value is 71.965N/mm2, resulted from the LVL
samples of Kasai with grain parallel to span, veneer thickness of 2.4mm. The highest local and global
MOE values obtained were 1090.935N/mm2 and 12043.918N/mm2 respectively, resulted from the
similar sample group of Kasai as mentioned. The lowest MOR value obtained is 10.046N/mm2,
resulted from the LVL samples of Mengkulang with grain perpendicular to the span and veneer
thickness of 2.4mm.
LVL produced from Kasai with 2.4mm veneer thickness generally had higher strength and
MOE values as compared to LVL produced from Mengkulang of 2.4mm veneer thickness under
different grain directions. LVL samples produced from Kasai (2.4mm) had higher densities as
compared to LVL samples produced from Mengkulang (2.4mm). This fulfilled the assumption that a
higher density yields a higher bending strength [13].

The grain directions also affected the load vs displacement graphs of the samples in bending
tests. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 displayed the effects of grain directions on the static bending performance of
different timber species.

Load vs Displacement Graph of Mengkulang Load vs Displacement Graph of Kasai

(2.4mm) Edgewise Parallel vs Edgewise (2.4mm) Edgewise Parallel vs Edgewise
Perpendicular Perpendicular
12 14
12
10
10
Load (kN)
Load (kN)

8
8
6
6
4 4
2 2
0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Displacement (mm) Displacement (mm)
Mengkulang Edgewise Perpendicular Kasai Edgewise Perpendicular
Mengkulang Edgewise Parallel Kasai Edgewise Parallel

Fig. 2 Load vs Displacement Graph of Fig. 3 Load vs Displacement Graph of Kasai

Mengkulang (2.4mm) Edgewise Parallel vs (2.4mm) Edgewise Parallel vs Edgewise
Edgewise Perpendicular Perpendicular

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IRTTEC 2020 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1793 (2021) 012062 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1793/1/012062

In Fig. 2 and Fig 3, steeper graphs in parallel grain samples could be observed for both
timber species, which indicated that the samples with grain parallel to its span were more rigid than
the perpendicular grain direction ones [14]. Meanwhile, similarly in both parallel grain samples’
graphs, the yield strengths of the parallel grain samples were achieved earlier than the perpendicular
ones, hence the perpendicular samples failed at a greater displacement than the parallel ones. The
parallel grain samples were able to achieve a higher maximum loading as compared to the
perpendicular grain samples, indicating the parallel grain samples were able to take more load before
failure. For example, Kasai samples with parallel grain were able to take 11.87kN of load before
failure, whereas perpendicular grain samples failed at 2.53kN.
The results yielded from this study regarding the effect of grain directions were satisfactory.
The results fulfilled the assumption that the slope of grain has significant effect on the mechanical
properties of a timber sample, which the strength decreases following the increment of grain
deviation. Wood is stronger with grain parallel to span as compared to perpendicular. This is due to
the wood fibres orientation that allows the stress to be resisted by the whole length of fibres when
stress is applied; whereas in perpendicular grain direction, the fibres are oriented to the width, which
shorter fibres length to resist the stress [15].

The failure characteristics of each sample was observed and recorded to identify the failure
behaviour and pattern after each testing. The frequently-occurred failure modes in Four Point
Bending Test were tension failure. Tension failure happened gradually, whereby it produced cracking
sound and crack lines in a gradual and steady rate till the achievement of maximum load then failure.
At the point of failure, a moderate “pop” sound was produced. When loaded, one portion of the
sample on a side of the neutral axis is stressed in tension, which the tension is parallel in grain;
whereas stressed in compression on the other side, causing tensile failure [15]. Fig. 4 illustrates the
pattern of this failure characteristic.

Fig. 4 Tension Failure Captured from Kasai Edgewise Perpendicular Sample

4. Conclusion
Based on the laboratory testing, Kasai timber species displayed higher density value, than
Mengkulang. The MOR and MOE values followed the same order as the density, proving the linear
relationship between bending strength and density of a timber material. This study also concluded
that the slope or orientation of the grain has significant influence on the mechanical properties of a
timber sample, which the strength decreases following the increment of grain deviation, and vice
versa.

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IRTTEC 2020 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1793 (2021) 012062 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1793/1/012062

5. Acknowledgement

The authors would like to express gratitude to University College Sedaya International (UCSI) and
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) for the financial and technical support. Utmost appreciation
was dedicated to the management of Faculty of Civil Engineering and Institute for Infrastructure
Engineering and Sustainable Management, UiTM and Civil Engineering Department, UCSI
University for the relentless support and guidance.

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