1.

Historical trajectory
2. WOOD USES
 Wood uses Solid load
Trusses and Joists bearing walls

Timber Frames
3.Energy consumption
Energy consumption
Energy consumption
4. Material properties
5.Environmental comparison of materials
6.Classification of trees
7. Comparison between soft and hard wood
Soft wood Hard wood

Annual rings Distinct Indistinct

colour light dark

fire resistance poor more

modullary rays Indistinct distinct

Structure resinousand split easily non-resinous& close grained

Weight light heavy

Sttength strong for direct Pull & weak equally strong for resisting
for Resisting thrust or shear ension, compression or shear
8. Structure of wood
Tree morphology:

Coupe transversale d’un chêne.

Structure of exogenous tree
9. Chemical composition
10.Moisture content
11.Fiber Saturation Point (FSP)
12.SHRINKAGE
13. Wood Production
13.1 Sawing and cutting
13.2 Seasoning (Drying)
13.3 Seasoning (natural and artificial)
13.4 Surfacing (Planing) and Grading
14. Grading according to Canadian wood council
Grading according to density and hardness
Strength classes according to Eurocode 5
15. DEFECTS
 15.1 Defects due to conversion or
natural forces

Knots: bases of branches or limbs

which are broken or cut off from the
tree

Variations due to humidity

15.2
Different
types of
Shakes

These are cracks which

partly or completely
separate the fibres of
wood
 15.3 Defects due to Fungi
The attack of timber by fungi when moisture content of timber is above 20% and
presence of air and warmth for the growth of fungi the following defects are caused:

(i) Blue stain: Sap of wood is stained to bluesh colour

(ii) Brown rot: Decay or disease of timber by removal of cellulose compounds from
wood and wood assumes the brown colour
(iii) Dry rot: Convert the wood into dry powder form
(iv) Heart rot: This is formed when branch has come out of a tree and the tree
becomes weak and gives out hallow sound when struck with a hammer
(v) Sap stain: The sap wood looses its colour because of feed on cell contents of sap
wood.
(vi) Wet rot: Caused chemical decomposition of wood of the timber and timber
converts to grayish brown powder known as wet rot.
(vii) White rot: Attack lignin of wood and wood assumes the appearance of white
mass wood.
 15.4 Defects due to insects
(i) Beetles: Small insects form holes of size about 2mm diameter and
attack sap wood of all species of hard woods. Tunnels are formed in all
directions in sapwood by the larvae of these beetles and converted into
fine flour like powder. They do not disturb outer cover and looks sound.
(ii) Marine borers: These make holes or bore tunnels in wood for taking
shelter. The wood attacked by marine borers loses colour and strength
(ii) Termites: White ants are very fast in eating away the wood from the
core of the cross section. They make tunnels inside in different directions
and usually do not disturb the outer shell
Wood defects and organisms that degrade wood
16. Wood preservation

If not possible, treat cuts and holes with a liberal application of filed
applied preservative
 17. Physical properties of wood
Specific gravity & density
18. Thermal properties
Thermal conductivity
19.Electrical properties
20.Mechanical properties of wood
Elastic modulus
Strength Properties
Lois de comportement
 Effect of humidity on strength of wood

Influence du taux d’humidité sur différentes propriétés de résistance du bois. A : résistance en traction dans le sens
des fibres; B : résistance en flexion; C : résistance en compression dans le sens des fibres; D : résistance en
compression perpendiculaire aux fibres; E : résistance en traction perpendiculaire aux fibres
Mechanical testing Testing representative, small, clear specimens
 Mechanical properties
Essence du bois Masse vol. Res. Compression Traction (MPa) Cisaillem. Module
(kg/m3) D’elasticité
(MPa) Longitud. (MPa)
Longitud. (MPa)

Parall. Transv. Paral. Transv

Epicéa 400/500 30/40 5/7 100/120 3/5 3à6 8000 à 12000

Sapin 500/600

Spruce 600/700

Tendres 400/550 25/35 8/9 80/120 2/3 4à6 8000 à 12000

(Peuplier)
Mi-durs 500/700 40/60 10/12
(Chêne – Hêtre, Acajou)

Durs 600/800 50/70 15/20 100/150 4/6 6 à 10 10000 à 12000

Chêne dur)
Load duration (Creep)
21.Damping properties
 Design considerations
For design of wood structures, strength properties must be adjusted to the following factors
22. Engineered wood products
Wood products for construction
 Veneers
Veneers: These are thin sheets or slices of 0.40 to 6mm wood
of superior quality. The suitable timber for veneers, are
mahagony and oak, rosewood, sissoo, teak etc. The process of
preparing a sheet of veners is known as veneering. Veneers are
used to produce plywoods batten boards and lamin boards.

Plywood
Plywoods are boards, which are prepared from thin
layers of wood or veneers. Three or more veneers in
odd number are pressed using adhesives. The plywoods
are used for various purposes such as ceilings, doors,
furniture, partitions, panelling walls, packing cases,
railway coaches, formwork for concrete etc. Thickness
may vary from 6 to 25mm.
 Particle & strand board
Fibre boards: These are rigid boards and they
are also known as pressed wood or
reconstructed wood. The thickness varies from
3mm to 12mm. These are available in lengths
from 3 to 4.5m and width varying from 12 to
18m. These are used for:
(i)For internal finish of rooms such as wall
panelling; suspended ceilings.
(ii)To construct form work for cement
concrete.
(iii)To construct partitions.
(iv)To prepare flush doors, tops of tables etc.
(v)To provide an insulating material of heat
and sound.
(vi)To work as paving or flooring material.
Floor Joists
Glue laminated timbers
Wood with
concrete in
the core (lift
or stairs) for
seismic zones
Structural wood
Structure (beams and columns)
Japanese Pavilion, Hanover, 2000
Image courtesy Nicolas Janberg, http://www.structurae.de/en/photos/img418.php
Vaulx-en-Velin. L'école d'architecture : une bulle de nature au cœur d'une ville