Wood & Wood Products surrounded by the annual rings, the

number of which approximately

Wood as Construction Material
Wood is one of the oldest known materials
of construction and the only one that is
naturally renewable. Historically, wood has
 The inner layer of each ring
employed in many applications, from
shipbuilding to bridges, railroad ties to
flooring, and cabinets to nails.
Properties of Wood & Wood Products
 The outer layer represents a heavier,
1. simplicity in fabrication
2. lightness
3. reusability
4. insulation from heat, sound, and
 The inner part of the trunk is made
5. electricity
6. aesthetically pleasing appearance
7. resistance to oxidation, acid attack,
and salt water;
8. and environmental compatibility
represents the age of the tree: a tree
with 250 rings is roughly 250 years
old.
represents the most rapid spring
growth, and is referred to as
springwood or early wood.
harder, and stronger material called
summerwood. The proportion of the
summerwood to springwood affects
the wood density, which in turn
affects the strength.
up of dead tissue (or cells), and the
primary function of this part is to
provide mechanical support to the
tree. This part is called heartwood,
which is darker, drier, and harder to
the outer part, known as sapwood,
which contains living cells.

Structure of Wood

 A relatively thin, rough, and dense

covering calledbark surrounds the
trunk.

 A thin (microscopic) layer of wood

cells calledcambium exists inside
the bark, in which the growth of
wood takes place continuously.

 This growth eventually results in a

ring-like structure referred to as an
Chemical Composition of Wood
annual ring (or annular ring, growth
ring, or tree ring ).  Cells , which are the smallest
organizational units in all plants and
 The center of the log, called the pith,
animals capable of carrying on the
 life process, make up the structural
element of wood , they come in
variety of sizes and shapes in wood,
and are cemented together quite
rigidly.
 In most types of wood, a large
proportion of cells are found with
their longitudinal axes nearly parallel
to the axis of the tree.
 Some cells that lie with their axes
perpendicular to the tree axis (in the
radial direction) are called radial
cells or medullary rays.
 Cells formed in the growing season
(spring) differ from those produced
in the later season (summer) in size,
shape, and wall thickness. Cells
developed in spring have no more
than about 10% of gross area in cell
walls (the balance is cell cavity),
whereas the wall area of cells
formed in summer is some 90% of
the gross area.
 Dry wood cells may be empty or
partly filled with deposits such as
gums and resins. The majority of
wood cells are considerably
elongated, and they are commonly
called fibers. The length of a fiber
varies; hardwood fibers average
around 0.04 in. (1 mm) in length and
softwood fibers, called tracheids,
around 0.25 in. (6 mm). Wood grain
refers to the arrangement of wood
fibers. Each cell has a hollow center
called the lumen or cell cavity. The
density of wood is related to the
ratio of cell wall to lumen volume.
Dry wood is made up of:
 Cellulose, a carbohydrate of high
molecular weight, is a major
constituent of wood substance
approximately 50% by weight. A
crystalline array of cellulose chains
is called a crystallite. As the tree
grows, the cellulose molecules are
arranged into ordered strands, called
fibrils, which in turn form the larger
structural elements that make up the
cell walls.
 Hemicellulose, various polymers
built up of units of one or more
species of sugar, such as glucose,
galactose, xylose, and mannose
designates materials other than (but
similar to) cellulose and found in
wood. About 20-25% of wood is
hemicellulose, and hardwoods
contain generally more
hemicellulose and less lignin than
softwoods.
 Lignin- The natural cementing and
rigidifying material forming the
matrix in the cell walls and between
cells, and holding them together to
form various anatomical structures,
is called lignin. Comprising around
23%-33% of softwood & 16%-25% of
hardwood, lignin is the third most
abundant constituent of wood, after
cellulose & hemicellulose. The
biological process of depositing
lignin within the cell walls is called
lignification.
 Extractives- In addition to the three
major cell wall components, wood
often contains a large number of
 substances in varying amounts
called extractives, which include a
wide variety of chemicals. Soluble
substances such as fats & resins,
and insoluble substances such as
pectic and proteinaceous
compounds from the bulk of
extractives, their total amount not
exceeding 10% of wood.
Types of Wood
Wood is broadly classified into two
categories:
Hardwood (from deciduous trees)rees with
broad leaves that serves as shed are
hardwood. These includes Aspen,
Cottonwood, Birch, Black Walnut, Red Oak,
ect.
Softwood (from conifers)- These are any
species of tree that have needlelike leaves
and are generally evergreen. Douglas Fir,
Cedar, Pine, Redwood, Hemlock, etc. are
examples of softwood.
The terms “hardwood” & “softwood” refers
to the botanical origin of the particular wood,
& do not necessarily indicate the relative
hardness or density of a specific species,
although it is true that most species of
hardwood are harder to work with and
darker than typical species of softwood. In
general, conifers are easier and faster to
grow, making them cheaper than many
hardwoods.
Physical Properties of Wood
The physical & mechanical properties of
wood differ from species to species & also
within the species due to the ff. conditions
of growth:
 climate
 density of the surrounding forest
 character of the soil
 moisture content
 the area in the log from which the
lumber is derived, and
 DefectsPhysical Properties of Wood
Two of the most important physical
properties that affect the strength &
durability of wood are:
Moisture content
The moisture content (MC) is the weight of
water in wood, expressed as a percentage
of its oven-dry weight.
weight of water
Moisture content (%)  x 100
oven  dry weight
Water exists in wood in two ways: in the
cells cavities as free water – similar to
water in a measuring cylinder – and in the
cell walls as bound or absorbed water. As
wood dries, water is driven off the cell
cavities. A point is reached when the
cavities contain only air and the cell walls
are saturated with water, which is called the
fiber saturation point, where in 25%-30%
moisture content is present in the fibers
depending on the species.
Specific gravity
The density (or unit weight) of wood is
defined as the mass or weight per unit
 volume. It is related to porosity, or material other than wood, such as metal or
proportion of voids. plastic

Two ways to calculate wood density : Fiberboard - panel made of consolidated

ligno-cellulosic fibers with the primary bond
 by using the total weight of wood & derived from their inherent adhesive
weight of water properties and/or the addition of resin or
other materials.
 by using the oven-dry weight (w/out
water) & the volume at the time of Fiber-cement flat sheets consist essentially
the test (dry weight & green volume) of an inorganic hydraulic – binder or a
calcium silicate binder formed by the
Specific gravity is the ratio between the
chemical reaction of a siliceous material
density of wood and the density of water. It
and a calcareous material reinforced by
is calculated as the ratio between the
organic fibers and/or inorganic synthetic
weight of a given volume of oven-dry wood
fibers.
and the weight of an equal volume of water.
Interior plywood - type of plywood intended
Specific gravity is frequently W
determined in
Specific gravity 
s
for inside use, having limited moisture
three condition: w w (V)
resistance.
 Green (moisture content in excess
Lumber core - side board made up of well
of 19 %)
machined lumber strips properly dried and
 Air-dry (moisture content about 12%) glued together.

 Oven-dry Lumber core plywood – ply board plywood

made up of face/back veneer, crossboard
62.4 G 100  MC  core veneer and well composed kiln dried
density or weight
3
(lb/ft )  o
 100 
1  0.009 (G o
)MC lumber core.

Panel - sheet of plywood.

Definition of Terms
Particle board - board principally made from
 Exterior plywood is a type of
wood chips and formed by hot press
plywood intended for outdoor or
process with adhesive.
marine uses, also known as Type I
Ply - stratum or layer used in referring to
 Face - surface of the plywood
the successive layers of veneer in a panel.
showing veneer of higher grade than
that of the back side Plywood - assembled product made of
layers of veneers and/or lumber core held
NOTE: The terms face and back do not
together by an adhesive, the chief
apply when the same grade or veneer is
characteristics of which is the alternate
used on both sides of the plywood.
cross layers, distributing the longitudinal
Face-plywood - plywood faced with a wood strength.
Classification of Wood Based Panels
Wood based panels shall be classified as:
Adhesive bonded
a) Plywood and plyboard
b) Fiberboard
c) Particleboard
Cement bonded
a) Fiber cement flat sheets
b) Wood wool cement bonded boards
Classification of Plywood
Class 1 (dry conditions)
This bonding class is appropriate for veneer
plywood intended for use in normal interior
climates.
Class 2 (humid conditions)
This bonding class is appropriate for veneer
plywood intended for protected external
applications (e.g. behind cladding or under
roof coverings), but capable of resisting
weather exposure for short periods (e.g.
when exposed during construction).
It is also suitable for interior situations
where the service moisture condition is
higher than the class 1 level.
Class 3 (exterior conditions)
This bonding class is designed for veneer
plywood intended for exposure to weather
over sustained periods.
Classification of Fiberboard (High Density)
Fiberboard shall be classified into the
following types according to moisture
resistance:
Standard fiberboard
A high density fiberboard without
subsequent treatment generally intended
for interior use.
Tempered fibreboard
A high density fiberboard that has been
specially treated with drying oil, petroleum
derivatives or other compounds stabilized
by baking or heating, and generally intended
for the use where moisture resistance is
required.
Each type shall be further classified
according to surface finish as follows:
Plain- A hardboard without any factory-
applied finish.
1) Smooth-one-side (S1S)
High density fiberboard with a smooth
surface on one side and a screen
impression on the
other side.
2) Smooth-two-sides (S2S)
High density fiberboard with smooth
surfaces on both sides.
Decorative
Hardboard which has a pattern impressed
on one surface, e.g. simulating some other
materials such as leather, sawali, wood
grain, bark, diamond, fine weave, and others.

Perforated

Usually S1S hardboard with holes punched

or drilled at the factory for use with various
fixtures to provide decorative wall-mounted
storage facilities or which may be used for
acoustic purposes.