Dynamic Young’s Modulus and Moisture Content of Tropical Wood Species across Sap, Median, and Internal Wood Regions

• Main Authors: Sinin, Hamdan, Md Rezaur, Rahman, Ismail, Jusoh, Hasnizam, Abdul Wahid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BioResources Publishing 2018
• Subjects: SD Forestry
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/23117/1/Ismail.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/23117/; http://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/index
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

he dynamic Young’s modulus (Ed) and moisture content (MC) were determined for two tropical wood species, Gymnacranthera eugenifolia and Sindora sp. using the free-free vibration method. The wood species were tested at the sap, median, and internal regions. The dynamic Young’s modulus was found to be linearly correlated to the radial distance, with Ed gradually increasing with respect to the reduction in radial distance to the centre of the wood. Linear correlation was observed between the radial distance and Ed, with Ed gradually decreasing with respect to the radial distance from the centre. For Sindora sp. and Gymnacranthera eugenifolia, Ed ranged from 0.8 to 2.4 GPa and 0.9 to 1.6 GPa, respectively. Moisture content in Sindora sp. displayed a broad range, from 10 to 20 wt.%, while Gymnacranthera eugenifolia displayed a narrower range from 8 to 15 wt.%. Free-free flexural vibration testing is a fast, inexpensive, and reliable method for determining Ed. However, further studies are needed to investigate the acoustic qualities of these woods, such as the speed of sound and damping within the wood.