Assessing axial variation of some physical, anatomical and mechanical properties of 10, 15 and 20-year-old teak (Tectona Grandis) wood

Abstract

The wood industries in Ghana have been using teak wood harvested from different rotation ages ranging from 10 to 50 years. The optimal age of teak used for various wood productions is not known. The aim of this research was to assess selected physical, anatomical and mechanical properties of plantation teak of different ages (10, 15 and 20- years) grown in the guinea savanna ecological zone in Ghana. Same samples species were used for determination basic density, air dry density, oven dry density and the mechanical properties. Mechanical strength test samples were prepared and tested in accordance with the British standard (BS373: 1957). The range of mean strength values were as follows: Modulus of Rupture; 73N/mm2, 71N/mm2 and 80N/mm2for the 10, 15 and 20-year-old teak respectively. Modulus of Elasticity respectively values were 10404N/mm2, 9433N/mm2 and10017 N/mm2 Compression parallel to grain were 49, 54 and 52N/mm2 respectively and shear parallel to grain: 16, 15 and 14N/mm2 respectively. The relationship between teak wood properties and age of trees was not apparent. This suggests that other factors may influence the wood properties of teak trees. In general wood properties of young teak 10 and 15-years were not inferior to the ones from older plantation 20-years. Based on their physical wood properties, 10 and 15-year-old teak can be acceptable for wood production. The fibre length varies between the ages of the teakwood, ranging between 0.77μm for the 20-year-old and 0.913 μm for the 15-year-old. . MoE correlated positively and significantly with fibre width (r = 0.48, p< 0.05 and double wall thickness (r = 0.50, p< 0.05). Unexpectedly, both air dry density and basic density correlated positive with MoE and MoR.