Understanding Wood and Timber Types
Understanding Wood and Timber Types
Timber
“Wood prepared for use in building and carpentry”
1. Exogenous Trees
A. Conifer Trees (Soft wood Trees)
{Chir, deodar, Pine spruce}
B. Deciduous Trees(Hard Wood Trees)
{Sal, teak, oak, babul}
2. Endogenous Trees (Bamboo,
Cane, Palm)
Classification on the basis of Durability
Test specimens of size 600 × 50 × 50 mm are buried in the
ground to half their lengths and their condition is noted
form time to time
1. High durability: If the average life
is more than 10 years.
2. Moderate durability: If the average
life is 5-10 years.
3. Low durability: If the average life is
less than 5 years.
Y • Y—Common, 355 𝑚3 to
1415 𝑚3 per year
Trees
1. Exogenous Trees
a) These are the trees that grow in bulk by
increasing in outward direction
b) These trees never shed their leaves until
new ones are grown- EVERGREEN TREES
(Conifer Trees)
c) These trees bear Coned shaped fruits hence
this class of trees is known as Conifer Trees
d) These Trees consist of Circular rings along
their horizontal section that is added up
each year hence is termed as Annular Rings,
which is helpful in finding age of tree
Trees
1. Exogenous Trees
• The wood used for engineering
purposes is mostly derived from these
trees only
• These are further divided into two
types:
Trees
2. Endogenous Trees
• These are the trees which grow in
Bulk in endward direction and
consist of Fibrous marks throughout
their longitudinal section
• Wood obtained from these trees
have limited Engineering
applications
• Example: Bamboo cane, palm tree
Structure of Tree
𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏
𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒔
Structure of Tree
𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏
𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒌
𝒙 𝒙
𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒔
Pith-> Heart Wood -> Sap Wood-> Cambium Layer-> Inner bark-> Outer bark
Structure of Tree
1. Pith/Medulla:
a) Inner most portion
b) Entirely consists of cellulose (which is used for
nourishment of plant in its young age)
c) As Plant grows into Tree, it decays and does not take any
active part in growth of the tree
2. Heartwood
a) Inner annular ring surrounding the pith constitutes
heartwood
b) It has dark color that represents dead portion of the tree
c) Does not participate in growth of tree but imparts
strength and rigidity to it
d) Wood used for engineering purposes majorly
Structure of Tree
3. Sap Wood (Alburnum):
a) Outer annual rings between Heartwood and
Cambium layer
b) It has light color
c) It plays active role in growth of the tree
4. Cambium Layer
a) It is the Sap being converted to Sapwood, i.e
future growth of the tree is dependent upon
this Cambium Layer only
b) If due to any reason, bark of the tree is
removed exposing the Cambium layer, it can
lead to Scissor of Cells of wood in Cambium
layer, which can finally lead to death of tree
Structure of Tree
5. Medullary Rays:
a) Radial Fibers extending from Pith to
Cambium layer holding the annual rings of
sapwood and heartwood together is
termed as Medullary rays
b) Strength of timber in Transverse direction is
dependent on presence of Medullary rays
6. Bark
a) It is protected covering over the Cambium
layer to safeguard the future growth of the
tree
Growth of Tree
• In spring the roots of the tree suck sap as food from
the soil which reaches the branches and the leaves.
• Sap contains moisture which gets evaporated. It
absorbs carbon from air in presence of sunlight and
becomes denser.
• In autumn, the sap descends and deposits in the form
of a layer below the bark. This layer, referred to as
the cambium layer, hardens and adds a layer of wood
to the outside of tree every year in the form of
concentric rings.
• These annual rings furnish valuable information
regarding the age of the log, the rapidity and the
uniformity of its growth
Processing of Timber
Processing of Timber
1. Falling of Trees
• In hilly areas, cutting should be done in mid
summers as in winter- rain fall occurs
• In Plain areas, cutting should be done in winters as
excessive loss of moisture may take place in
summers
• The best time is midsummer or midwinter, when the
sap is at rest.
• If it is felled, when the sap is vigorous in movement,
the timber decays. If the tree is cut young, it yields
soft wood and if it stands too long, the decay starts
Processing of Timber
2. Seasoning of Trees
Newly fallen trees contain moisture up to 50%,
which needs to be removed before using for any
Engineering activity, this process of drying the
timber to make it fit for Engineering use is called
Seasoning
Electrical
1. Artificial
Kiln
Seasoning Chemical
Air Seasoning
2. Natural
Water Seasoning
Processing of Timber
2. Seasoning of Timber
I. Artificial Seasoning
A. Boiling
• Logs of timber are placed in water, temperature
of which is raised upto boiling point and is
maintained for 3-4 hours, then dried naturally
• Increase in temperature->Quick Evaporation-
>Duration of seasoning decreases
• Quickest method of seasoning but costly
B. Electrical Seasoning
• Timber is subjected AC(Alternative Currents), as
wood is bad conductor of electricity, produces
heat, which is utilized in seasoning of timber
Processing of Timber
2. Seasoning of Timber
I. Artificial Seasoning
C. Kiln seasoning
• Logs of timber are placed in air tight chamber
• Fully saturated air is forced into it at temperature of
35-40°C
• Then temperature is increased gradually and does
not result in evaporation, relative humidity is not
reduced, hence uniformly drying the timber
• With kiln drying there is a little loss in strength of
timber, usually less than 10 per cent
D. Chemical seasoning
• Logs are immersed in Solution of salts that increase
rate of evaporation and helps bring down the
duration of seasoning
Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
Processing of Timber
2. Seasoning of Timber
II. Natural Seasoning
A. Air Seasoning
• In a shed with a platform of height 300 mm
timber is stacked.
• Care is taken to see that air can circulate
around each timber balk. Moisture content
decreases over a period of time.
B. Water Seasoning
• Logs of Timber are immersed in water stream
such that larger portion is placed upstream
direction of flow
• The sap is replaced by flowing water, flowing
water can be removed in shorter time
Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
3. Conversion of Timber
Process of sawing the timber into sections of suitable shape and size
is termed as Conversion of Timber
A. Ordinary
Sawing
B. Quarter
Sawing
Sawing
C. Tangential
Sawing
D. Radial
Sawing
3. Conversion of Timber
A. Ordinary Sawing
✓Wastage is minimum
✓Most Economical
✓Cuts are made tangential to Annular Rings
• Sections are liable to shrink
B. Quarter Sawing
• Cuts are made at right angles to each other
✓Used when annual rings are indistinct
• Sections are liable to bend in transverse
direction Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
3. Conversion of Timber
C. Tangential Sawing
• Cuts are made tangential to the annual
rings that meet each other at right angle
❖Strength obtained in this section is
minimum as medullary rays are also cut
that are used for holding the annual rings
in position
D. Radial Sawing
• Cuts are made parallel to the medullary
rays/ radial directions
• Decorative effect
✓Strongest Section is obtained
❖Wastage is also maximum
Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
4. Preservation of Timber
4. Preservation of Timber
D. Creosote Oil :
• Produced by distillation of tar wood or coal
• Application of creosote oil almost doubles life
of timber
• Process of application is called Creosotic in
which oil at temperature of 50°C, pressure
0.7-1 N/mm2 is applied uniformly over the
timber
Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
4. Preservation of Timber
4. Preservation of Timber
• Boucherie Process:
• Sapwood of almost all green timbers with the bark on and of
bamboos in green condition, soon after felling, can be treated using
any of the inorganic water soluble preservatives by this process.
• The log of wood attached to the hose pipe and connected to the
reservoir containing preservative at an air pressure of 0.1–0.2
N/mm2 on its surface
• Due to hydrostatic pressure, the preservative displaces the sap in the
wood.
• The treatment is stopped when the concentration of preservative at
the lower end of the log is the same as that in the reservoir
4. Preservation of Timber
Defects in Timber
• Defects can occur due to:
Seasoning
Natural Resources
Conversion of Timber
Fungi
Defects in Timber
1. Defect due to Seasoning
Defects in Timber
2. Defect due to Natural Resources
• Heart Shake occurs due to shrinkage of heart
wood, when tree is overmatured. Cracks start
from pith and run towards sap wood. These
are wider at centre and diminish outwards.
• Cup Shake appears as curved split which
partly or wholly separates annual rings from
one another. It is caused due to excessive
frost action on the sap present in the tree,
especially when the tree is young
Defects in Timber
2. Defect due to Natural Resources
• Heartshakes and StarShakes: a defect in timber consisting of
shrinkage and separation of tissues across the annual rings usually
along the rays
Defects in Timber
2. Defect due to Natural Resources/Abnormal
Growth
Defects in Timber
3. Defect due to Conversion of Timber
A. Chipmark
• Formed due to marks of plaining tools
B. Torn Grain
• Depression over timber due to falling of
tools
C. Diagonal Grain
• Due to improper cutting
D. Wane
• Due to presence of originally rounded
surface on finished timber section
4. Defects in Timber due to Fungi
A. Blue stain: fungi carries decomposition of
sap and leaving blue color spot over it
B. Brown Rot: caused due to removal of
cellulose by fungi resulting in reddish
color
C. White Rot: formed due to removal of
Lignin(important in the formation of cell
walls) leading to development of white
spots
D. Dry rot: formed where there is no free
circulation of air, fungi converts it to dry
powdered form
Wood Products
1. What is Veneer?
Veneering is the process of manufacture of wood
based products in which thin sheets of woods
are produced which are known as Veneers
• Veneers are thin layer of wood which are
obtained by cutting the wood with sharp knife
in rotary
• In rotary cutter, the wood log is rotated against
the sharp knife or saw and cuts into thin
sheets. These thin sheets are dried in kilns and
finally veneers are obtained
• The thickness of veneers varies from 0.4 to 0.6
mm.
• In no case it should exceed 1 mm.
• Most preferable wood for veneers is Walnut
Wood Products
Uses of Plywood:
Used for partitions, ceilings, doors,
concrete form work, plywood boards,
lamin boards (built-up boards with
core strips up to 7 mm wide and 7
mm thick) and block boards (built-up
boards) etc
Wood Products
3. Fibre Board
• Fibre board is made form
Felting of wood and vegetable
matter and moulded into
sheets
7. Glass Wool:
• Glass wool is an insulating material
made from glass fibres. These fibres are
arranged using a binder into a texture
similar to wool. This process traps small
pockets of air between the glass, which
give the final product its superior
thermal insulation properties
• Highly resistance to wear and tear
• Thermal and sound insulation
Special Commercial forms of Glass
7. Fibre Glass:
• Fiberglass is a form of fiber-
reinforced plastic where glass fiber
is the reinforced plastic. Fibreglass
is widely used in bathtubs, boats,
aircraft, roofs, and other
applications
8. Flint Glass:
• Glass containing lead- highly
shining
• Used for table glass, lenses, prism,
optical glass etc.
Bitumen
Asphalt Tar
Solid State Mineral Tar
Bitumen Types
1. Blown Bitumen- is obtained by passing air
under pressure at a higher temperature
through the bitumen. It can be used as
roofing and damp-proofing felts, in the
manufacture of pipe asphalts and joint fillers,
as heat insulating material, etc
2. Cut Back Bitumin- is obtained by fluxing
asphaltic bitumen in presence of some
suitable liquid distillates of coal tar or
petroleum. It is mainly used in road
construction and in soil stabilization (2–4%).
Bitumen Types
3. Plastic Bitumen- consists of bitumen,
thinner and a suitable inert filler. The
amount of inert filler is about 40 to 45
per cent. It is used for filling cracks in
masonry structures, for stopping
leakage, etc.
4. Straight Run Bitumen- is the bitumen
being distilled to a definite viscosity or
penetration without further
treatment.
Properties of Bitumen
1. Viscosity:
• Depends on temperature.
• At lower temperature, bitumen has great viscosity and acquires the
properties of a solid body, while with increase in temperature the
viscosity of bitumen decreases and it passes into liquid state.
TAR
• It is produced by Destructive Distillation of Organic
material such as coal, oil, lignite or wool.
• There are five grades of road tars:
• RT-1 : For surface painting under exceptionally cold
weather conditions, hill roads at very high elevations.
• RT-2 : For standard surface painting under normal
climatic conditions.
• RT-3 : For surface painting and renewal coats and is also
used for premixing chips in top courses.
• RT-4 : For premixing tar macadam (base course).
• RT-5 : For grouting
Types of Tar
• Coal Tar
• Wood Tar
• Mineral Tar- Obtained from
Distillation of bituminous shales
(exp-tarmac, tar paving and tar
macadam)
ASPHALT
• Asphalt is a natural or artificial mixture in
which bitumen is associated with inert
mineral matter
• It is black or brownish black in colour.
• At temperature between 50–100°C it is in
liquid state whereas at temperature less
than this it remains in solid state.
• As it is a thermoplastic material it softens as
it is heated and hardens as it is cooled. It is
the basic paving material in use today.
Galvanized Iron
• Galvanization or galvanizing is the process of
applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, to
prevent rusting.
• The most common method is Hot dip Galvanizing, in
which the parts are submerged in a bath of molten
zinc.
• Used in Agriculture Grain silos, sprayers, etc.,
Automobile sector, Construction, House hold things
– Trunks, ice boxes, tubs, Furniture, Ducting, drums,
etc
• Advantages- Low cost, Less maintenance cost, Long
life Reliability, Toughest coating, The surface of GI
sheet is aesthetically pleasing, etc
Aluminium
• 3rd most plentiful element in Earth’s crust (It makes
up about 8% by weight of the Earth's solid surface)
• Found from Bauxite Ore
• Aluminium is remarkable for the metal's low
density and for its ability to resist corrosion due to
the phenomenon of passivation
• Structural components made from Aluminium and
its alloys are vital to the aerospace industry
• The production of 1Kg of Aluminium requires
around 2Kg of alumina.
• The production of 2Kg of alumina requires about
4Kg of bauxite.
• Density : 2,700 kg/m3
• Melting Point: 660 °C
Steel
• Steel belongs to iron carbon system.
• Steel is recyclable and hence is a “green material”
• Carbon imparts strength to iron. It reduces ductility
and impact strength
• Basic raw materials used for production of steel are
iron ore, coal & limestone
• Broadly we have either plain carbon (carbon is the
principle alloying element) or alloy (in addition to
carbon there are other alloying elements like
Nb(Niobium), V(Vanadium), W (Tungsten),
Cr(Chromium), Ni(Nickel) etc) steel.
• Quality of structural steel is found out by Yield
stress.
• Rust formed from corrosion of steel has 2.5 times
the volume of steel
• Mild Steel:
• Mild steel contains approximately 0.05–0.25% carbon, making it malleable and
ductile.
• Mild steel has a relatively low tensile strength, but it is cheap and easy to form.
• The density of mild steel is approximately 7.85 g/cm3 (7850 kg/m3)
• Ultimate tensile strength of Structural Mild steel is 420 N/mm2
• Stainless Steel:
• Also known as inox steel is a steel alloy, with highest percentage contents of iron,
chromium and nickel, with a minimum of 10.5% chromium content by mass and a
maximum of 1.2% carbon by mass
• Vanadium Steel:
• Used in Manufacturing of Axels and Springs
• Wrought Iron:
• It has lowest carbon content (purest form of iron)
• Cast iron:
• Group of iron-carbon alloys with a carbon content greater than 2% (High comp
strength, low tensile strength)
Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
PLASTIC
Thermoplastic
Behavior with respect
to Heating
CLASSIFICATION
Thermosetting Plastic
Homogenous
PLASTIC
Structure
Heterogeneous
Rigid Plastic
Elastomers
Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
PLASTIC CLASSIFICATION
1. Behavior with respect to Heating
A. Thermoplastics
i. They soften by heat and harden when cooled down
ii. They can be remoulded as many times we want
iii. They are brittle and glossy
iv. Examples: PVC (polyvinyl chloride), Polyamide, Polystyrene
B. Thermosetting Plastics
i. They require a great pressure and momentary heat (127-
177°C) during molding which hardens on cooling
ii. They can not be reused
iii. They are durable strong and hard
iv. Examples: (Epoxies, Polyesters, Nylon, Silicones, etc)
Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
PLASTIC
2. With respect to Structure
A. Homogenous
i. These contain carbon chain and
are composed of only carbon
atoms and exhibit homogenous
structure
B. Heterogeneous
i. These contain Carbon, Oxygen,
Nitrogen, etc chain and exhibit
heterogeneous structure Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
PVC
• Polyvinyl chloride (thermoplastic), commonly
abbreviated PVC, is the third-most widely produced
plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene.
• PVC is used in construction because it is more
effective than traditional materials such as copper,
iron or wood in pipe and profile applications.
• It can be made softer and more flexible by the
addition of plasticizers, the most widely used being
phthalates.
• In this form, it is also used in clothing , electrical
cable insulation, inflatable products and many
applications in which it replaces rubber.
Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
Most Widely Used Plastic !
1. Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET):
• PET is the most widely produced plastic in the world. It is
used predominantly as a fiber (known by the trade name
“polyester”) and for bottling or packaging. For example,
PET is the plastic used for bottled water and is highly
recyclable.
2. Polyethylene (PE):
• Two types→ Low and high density polyethylene (LDPE
and HDPE respectively)
• LDPE: LDPE is the plastic used for plastic bags in grocery
stores. It has high ductility but low tensile strength.
• HDPE: A stiff plastic used for more robust plastic
packaging like laundry detergent containers as well as for
construction applications or trash bins.
Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
CPVC
• (CPVC Chlorinated Polyvinyl chloride ) is a
thermoplastic produced by chlorination of PVC,
which is significantly more flexible and can
withstand higher temperatures than standard
PVC
• CPVC is readily workable, including machining,
welding, and forming
• Excellent corrosion resistance at elevated
temperatures, CPVC is ideally suited for self-
supporting constructions where temperatures
up to 200 °F (93 °C) are present
Civil Engineering by Sandeep Jyani Sir
PolyPropylene Fiber(PPF)
• Polypropylene is a 100% synthetic fiber which is
transformed from 85% propylene.
• The monomer of polypropylene is propylene. Polypropylene
is a by-product of petroleum
• Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic
• Polypropylene is used in sanitary products, filters for air, gas,
and liquids.