CE 221 (Construction Materials and Testing)
SEMI-FINAL PERIOD
Wood (Xylem) is a fibrous substance that composes the trunk and branches of
a tree that lays the pitch and the bark. Wood is a hard, tough substance that forms the
trunks of trees, and that has been used for thousands of years as a fuel and as a material
for construction. Also, wood is defined as the lignified water-conducting, strengthening,
and storage tissues of branches, stems, and roots of trees. Xylem is the woody tissue,
found in higher plants, that conducts water and inorganic salts throughout the plant and
provides it with mechanical support. Properties of wood are strong material, durable, light
in weight, ease of fastening, artistic, and natural beauty.
Woods are classified as softwood or hardwood, depending on the form which they
come. Woods from broad-leaved trees are called hardwoods, and woods from coniferous
trees are called softwoods, regardless of their actual hardness. Thus, many softwoods
are harder than some of the so-called hardwoods. The hardwoods have long, continuous
ducts leading through the trunk; the softwoods do not have such ducts, and the fluids are
transported from cell to cell. Many softwoods have such resin ducts running parallel to
the grain, and softwoods, in general, contain considerable resin, whereas few hardwoods
have any such material in the wood. Most lumber in the U.S. is softwood; hardwood is
generally employed for furniture and high-grade flooring.
Difference Between Soft-wood and Hard-wood
Property Soft-wood Hard-wood
Color Lighter Darker
Growth Faster Slower
Weight Lighter Heavier
Density Low High
Annual Rings Distinct Indistinct
Heartwood and Sapwood Cannot be distinguished Can be distinguished
Strength Strong along the grains Strong along and across the grains
Conversion Easy Difficult
Resinous Material Exists in pores Does not exist
Advantages of Wood
1) In proportion to weight, wood is stronger than most materials.
2) Wood is easily worked with tools. It can be fabricated into many shapes, sizes and
designs.
3) Wood is excellent non-conductor of heat.
4) The grains and appearance are conductive to artistic and architectural design,
adding beauty and attraction to furniture and interior finishes.
5) It is abundant in many shapes, sizes and forms and is renewable resources.
6) The use of timber connectors in wide trusses and spans, towers and general
constructions permit the use of small wood members.
7) Wood does not deteriorate in value if properly handled and protected.
8) It is not readily affected by changing styles.
9) It has prompt resale value.
10) Neither heat, cold nor climate changes, may seriously affect wood.
Characteristics of Good Timber
1) Narrow annual rings, closer the rings greater its strength.
2) Compact medullary rays.
3) Dark color.
4) Uniform texture.
5) Sweet smell and a shining fresh cut surface.
6) When struck sonorous (full, deep) sound is produced.
7) Free from the defects in timber.
8) Heavy weight.
9) No wooliness at fresh cut surface.
Physical Properties of Wood
• Strength – is the general term used in reference to the ability of wood to resist
stresses and strain. Different wood varies materially in the following manner.
1. Wood is resistant to compression along fibers.
2. Stiffness or the ability to resist bending as in floor joist and beams
supporting heavy load.
3. Strength in tension or the ability to resist lengthwise stresses.
4. Shearing strength or the ability of the fibers to resist rupture along or across
the grain.
• Moisture – is an important factor in the strength of wood. Thus, to a certain extent,
strength increases with the degree of seasoning of wood. Knots or other defects
in wood also influence strength.
• Weight – is also important consideration. Heavy woods are generally strong, light
wood are usually weak.
• Hardness – is expressed as resistance to indentation or to the saw or axe across
the grain. Hardness is dependent largely on weight, structural elements of the
wood and degree of seasoning. This feature is important in several methods of
utilizing such as flooring, furniture, cross ties, handles and may small wood articles.
• Cleavability – is the resistance of wood to cleavage along the grains. The line of
least resistance in cleavage is along the radius because the wood rays are in this
direction. Wood splits much more easily when wet because moisture softens the
fibers and reduces adhesion across the grain. Straightens in the grain, however,
determine the ease with which wood splits.
• Flexibility and Toughness – moisture content of wood influences flexibility to a
considerable degree. Toughness refers to the combined strength, shock
resistance and flexibility of wood.
• Durability – as applied to wood means the ability to resist decay or simply the
length of its life under a given condition. Durability may also include the resistance
of wood to the influence of mechanical wear. Durability is classified based on
observation.
1. High Durability – average life of 120 months and over.
2. Moderate Durability – average life less than 120 months but of 60 months
or more.
3. Low Durability – average life of less than 60 months.
• Color – also used in identifying wood. Heartwood is generally much darker in color
than sapwood. Newly sawed woods are lighter in color than when exposed to the
air.