Timber is a variety of wood that has been converted into beams and boards. It is also classified in the U.S. and Canada as a “lumber.” Timber or Lumber is essentially a wood or firewood of growing trees. Any wood that can yield a minimum size can be called a timber or lumber. It’s a step in the wood production process. For structural purposes, timbers are used. Timbers are the woods that are adapted for construction purposes. Finished wood is supplied to the market in standard sizes. Timber is used for the construction of houses and furniture.
Timber as a building material is in high demand. Timbers have numerous uses, ranging from building construction to making furniture. These uses made timber an important material for construction.
Properties of Timber
It is necessary to ensure the value of wood before using it for a product. Through studying the properties of wood, the value can be assured. Here we addressed the physical and mechanical characteristics of timber that affect the quality of timber.
- Grain
- Strength
- Shrinkage and Swelling
- Density
- Toughness
- Warping
- Elasticity
- Defectless
- Durability
- Workability
- Free of Abrasion
- Soundness
- Colour
- Moisture Content
- Hardness
- Specific Gravity
- Appearance
When picking timbers for use, these assets must be tested for quality assurance. At the same time, making sure the timber is perfect is also important.
Grain: Several plant arrangement forms have been identified. The consistency of the grain arrangement of the timber differs. Grains are closely associated with each other.
Coarse Grain: broadly and widely arranged vascular tissue and fiber.
Straight Grain: It is necessary to organize vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) which grows parallel to the length of the so-called straight grain timber.
Interlocked Grain: a spiral structure can be used instead of a twisted parallel arrangement.
Strength: Timbers of the highest quality have the greatest strength. Strength is capable of carrying loads. In the same section, anisotropic content such as wood has different structures. So, the strength of timber is different at different points. Grain structure determines the strength of the timber. Some types of strength are
Tensile Strength: when the timber is strong enough for the force for traction. If there is a perpendicular force, timber will be weaker. The size of tensile strength loads is 500-2000 kg / cm2.
Density: Higher density timber has a thicker wall. This quality of timber is an important property. Moisture content: Presence of defects: some of the timber’s natural and artificial defects, such as cross-grain, knots, and shakes, etc. All of them cause a decrease in the strength of the timber.
Toughness: Timber must be able to bear shakes, shake. Characteristic of anti-bending and ant splitting is required. Old timbers have annual rings that show a good indicator of their generation.
Warping: Timber of good quality can not be influenced by environmental change with the season.
Durability: A high-quality timber has the property to withstand the disease or other insect parasite attack. This standard of resistance increases timber.
Elasticity: Another property elasticity implies that after use, timber should have its own form.
Defectless: If the wood is from a strong oak, this land is obtained. A tree without faults is free of sap, shakes and dead knots
Workability: It’s always easy to work on a strong timber. Easy to pull on strong timber with a saw. It can be done well to finish.
Free of Abrasion: The external environment should not cause damage to timber. The ability to protect the body must be earned.
Soundness: A good quality timber sounds good.
Colour: Color is a universal attribute that characterizes many trees because they exhibit tree-to-tree variability. Dark color shows fragile wood. For example, the golden yellow, whitish and dark brown shades of freshly cut teak, Deodar, and Walnut are respectively.
Moisture Conent: Timbers are hygroscopic in nature (air) and gain water. Water retention or depletion relies on moisture in the atmosphere. If the moisture content of the timbers is high, this means the quality of the timber is low. The content of water is the risk of fungal attack.
Hardness: Hardness is an apparent property for the tolerance of any type of damage.
Specific Gravity: There is a variation in the specific gravity of timber (0.3-0.9). It depends on the pores in the timber. A thin material’s specific gravity is less than that of liquid (< 1). But their specific gravity increases up to 1.5 in the case of compact wood where pores are almost absent and become heavier.
Appearance: Scent is a nice timber estate for a few plants because their signature fragrance will recognize them. There is a good scent of fresh-cut timbers. For example, resinous pine smell.