Materials of Construction

Construction Material -Timber

Definition
 Timber (Timbrian – to build)
 Timber as construction material – Trees with girth not
less then 600mm

Girth
Forms of Timber
 Standing Timber – Living Tree
 Rough Timber – After Felling of Tree
 Converted Timber – Sawn and cut into suitable and
commercial sizes
Classification of Trees

Conifer Soft Woods

Exogenous
Hard
Trees Deciduous
Wood

Endogenous
 Soft Wood:
Light Coloured
Resinous
Light Weight
Weak

Pine Spruce
 Hard Wood:
Close-Grained
Strong
Heavy
Dark Coloured
Durable
Non-resinous

Teak Wood Mahogany

Wood
Soft Wood Vs Hard Wood
Item Soft Wood Timber Hard Wood Timber
Annual Distinct Indistinct
Rings
Color Light Dark
Density Low High
Fire Poor More
Resistance
Medullary Indistinct Distinct
Rays
Source Coniferous trees with Deciduous trees with
needle shaped leaves flat broad leaves.
Soft Wood Vs Hard Wood
Item Soft Wood Timber Hard Wood Timber
Strength Strong for direct Equally strong for resisting
pull and weak for tension, compression and
resisting thrust or shear. Along strong along and
shear along the across the grains
grains
Structure Resinous and split Non-resinous and close
easily grained
Weight Light Heavy
Examples Chir, Deodar, Fir, Babul, Mahogany, Oak, Sal,
Kail, Pine, Spruce Teak
Structure of Tree
 Structure of Trees are of two types
 Macro structure
 Micro Structure
 Macro Structure of Tree

1. Pith
2. Heart Wood
3. Sap Wood
4. Cambium Layer
5. Inner Bark
6. Outer Bark
7. Medullary Rays

Typical Cross Section of Tree

Macro Structure of Tree

Typical Cross-Section
of Tree
Micro Structure of Tree
 Structure of wood apparent only at greater
magnifications
 Components of microstructure
 Conductive Cells
 Mechanical Cells
 Storage Cell
Conversion of Timber
 Cutting and Sawing to suitable sections
Processing of Timber
 Felling of Trees
 Age of Trees for Felling
 Season of Felling
 Method of Felling
Method for Cutting of Tree
Processing of Timber
 Objects Seasoning of Timber
 To Reduce Weight
 To Impart Hardness, Stiffness, Strength, Electrical Resistance
 To increase Resistance against decay
 To impart surfacing for adhesion
Processing of Timber
 Seasoning of Timber
 Meaning of Seasoning
 Free Moisture and Bound Moisture
 Determination of Moisture Content
 Objects of Seasoning
 Methods of Seasoning
 Natural Seasoning
 Artificial Seasoning
o Kiln Seasoning
o Boiling
o Chemical Seasoning
o Electrical Seasoning
o Water Seasoning
Natural Seasoning of Timber
Artificial Seasoning of
Timber - Kiln
Civil Structure – Wooden – Subjected to Water
Processing of Timber
Item Natural Seasoning Kiln Seasoning

Moisture Reduced by 15-18% Reduced to maximum

Content
Nature of Use Simple and Economical Technical and Expensive
Quality of Liable to insects and fungi Less liable to insects and fungi
Timber attacks attacks
Space More Space Required Less Space Required
Time Slow Rapid
Requirement
Strength Stronger Little Weaker
Preservation of Timber
 Object of Preservation of Timber
 To protect from destroying agencies such as fungi and insects
 To increase durability
 To increase life of component
Preservation of Timber
 Requirements of Good Preservative
 Allow decorative Treatment
 Capable of Covering Large Area with Small Quantity and high
penetration power
 Cheap and Easily Available
 Durable (light, heat, moisture etc.)
 Free from unpleasant Smell
 Non-Flammable
 Efficient to resist insects attacks
 Harmless for persons and animals
 Have Pleasant appearance
 Not affecting strength
 Ease for cleaning
Preservation of Timber
 Types of Preservatives
 Coal Tar
 Chemical Salts (Copper Sulphate, Mercury Chloride, Sodium
Fluoride, Zinc Chloride)
 Creosote Oil(Oil – Distillation of Tar)
 Paints (Oil and Solignum)
 ASCU Treatment
Preservation of Timber
 Methods for Preservation of Timber
 Brushing
 Charring
 Dipping
 Hot and Cold Open Tank
 Injecting Under Pressure
 Spraying
Defects of Timber
Defects of timber broadly classified as
 Defects due to Conversion
 Defects due to Fungi
 Defects due to Insects
 Defects due to Natural Forces
 Defects due to Seasoning
Defects of Timber
Defects of timber broadly classified as
 Defects due to Conversion
 Chip Mark
 Diagonal Grains
 Torn Grains
 Wane
Defects of Timber
Defects of timber broadly classified as
 Defects due to Fungi
 Blue Stain
 Brown Rot
 Dry Rot
 Heart Rot
 Sap Strain
 Wet Rot
 White Rot
Defects of Timber
Defects of timber broadly classified as
 Defects due to Insects
 Beetles
 Marine Bores
 Termites
Defects of Timber
Defects of timber broadly classified as
 Defects due to Natural Forces
 Burls
 Callus
 Chemical Stain
 Coarse Grain
 Dead Wood
 Druxiness
 Froxiness
Defects of Timber
Defects of timber broadly classified as
 Defects due to Natural Forces
 Knots
 Rind Galls
 Shakes
 Twisted Fibres
 Upsets
 Water Stain
 Wind Cracks
Defects of Timber
Defects of timber broadly classified as
 Defects due to Seasoning
1. Bow
2. Case-Hardening
3. Check
4. Collapse
5. Cup
6. Honey-Combing
7. Radial Shakes
8. Split
9. Twist
10. Warp
Qualities of Good Timber
Factors affecting Qualities of Timber:
 Environmental Conditions of Locality
 Maturity of Tree
 Method of Seasoning
 Nature of Soil
 Process of Preservation
 Time of Felling
Qualities of Good Timber
Qualities of Timber:
 Appearance
 Color
 Defects
 Durability
 Elasticity
 Fibers
 Fire Resistance
 Hardness
 Mechanical Wear
 Shape
Qualities of Good Timber
Qualities of Timber:
 Smell
 Sound
 Strength
 Structure
 Toughness
 Water Permeability
 Weathering Effects
 Weight
 Working Conditions
Strength of Timber
Factors Affecting Strength of Timber:
 Abnormalities of Growth
 Faults in Seasoning
 Invasion of Insects
 Irregularities of Grain
 Moisture Content
 Presence of Knots, Shakes etc.
 Way in which a timber piece is cut from the log etc.
Decay of Timber
Causes Favouring Decay of Timber:
• Alternate Dry and Wet Conditions
• Bad Storage or Stacking of Timber
• Defects in Timber (Conversion, Fungi, Insects, Natural
Forces, Seasoning)
• Use of timber without taking out sap wood from its
structure
• Using seasoned timber without applying suitable
preservative on its surface and
• Using unseasoned wood with the application of protective
coat of paints or tar.
Market Forms of Timber
Timber converted into suitable commercial Sizes are:
1. Battens
2. Baulk
3. Board
4. Deal
5. End
6. Log
7. Plank
8. Pole
9. Quartering
10. Scantling
Industrial Forms / Processed Timber
Timber Manufactured scientifically in a factory are:
1. Veneers
2. Plywood
3. Fibre-board
4. Impreg Timbers
5. Compreg Timbers
6. Block-board and Lamin-board
7. Glulam
8. Flush-door Shutters
9. Particle Board or Chip Board
10. Hardboard
Veneers
Plywood
Fibreboards
Impreg Timber
Block-board
Compreg
Glulam
Lamin-Board