Physical and mechanical properties of Klainedoxa gabonensis with engineering potential

Abstract

Adequate information is sparse for many tropical timbers on their engineering applications, which make their international promotion difficult. The physical and mechanical properties of Klainedoxa gabonensis Pierre ex Engl. (a lesser-utilized species) and Entandrophragma cylindricum were compared. K. gabonensis contained more moisture with greater density at 12 % moisture content than E. cylindricum and had a tangential–radial ratio for swelling and shrinkage of 1.31–1.38 and 1.58–1.63, respectively, within acceptable thresholds for engineering/structural timbers. For K. gabonensis, shear parallel to grain was 32.2 ± 0.4–33.5 ± 1 N mm⁻²; compressive parallel to grain, 80.7 ± 1.4–90.6 ± 1 N mm⁻²; modulus of rupture, 204 ± 4.0–214 ± 4.0 N mm⁻² and modulus of elasticity, 28,932 ± 664–29,493 ± 822 N mm⁻². These properties were superior to those of E. cylindricum [(15.5 ± 0.9)–(15.6 ± 0.6), (56.4 ± 4.5)–(63.6 ± 1.2), (99.4 ± 4.7)–(121.3 ± 10.6), and (9987.4 ± 207)–(10,051 ± 258) N mm⁻², respectively] and compared well with those of several traditional timbers for construction and furniture production. Its use would contribute to minimize pressure on the primary timbers in the forests and widen the raw material base for wooden products.