Abstract:
Approximately 680 tree species have been identified in Ghana‘s forest, but only a few
of these have been put to commercial use. Of the 1999 timber production, some 60
percent was derived from a small number of species. Actually, 66 species dominated
felling in 1999. Since there is an increasing demand for tropical timbers, there is
therefore the need to consider less well known but commonly found species such as
Gmelina arborea which could be developed for commercial use. The lesser used
species (LUS), offer a number of potential advantages to both Ghana and the
international market. It was against this background that the physical and mechanical
properties of fifteen (15) and thirty (30) years Gmelina arborea were determined to
recommend the suitability of the species for furniture production and wood products.
One (1) fifteen (15) and one(1) thirty30 years trees from a plantation in the Odomi
Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region were extracted. Logs from the trees were quarter
sawn and further prepared according to the British Standard BS 373-1957. Test was
conducted using Instron Universal testing machine and the results analyzed with origin
9.0. There were significant difference among the MOE (15years: 8665 N/mm2, 30years:
10875 N/mm2), MOR (15years:64.30N/mm2, 30years:69.16N/mm2). The mechanical
strength properties increased from the top, middle to the butt same as the densities. To
achieve maximum results in terms of the mechanical and physical strength it is
recommended that species of 30 years and above should be considered, since the
mechanical and physical strength properties improve as the tree ages.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of WOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION, Faculty of TECHNICAL EDUCATION, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the award of Master of Philosophy in (Wood Science and
Technology) degree.
JUNE, 2017