PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FIFTEEN (15) AND THIRTY (30) YEARS GMELINA ARBOREA

ABSTRACT 

Approximately 680 tree species have been identified in Ghana’s forest, but only a few of these have been put to commercial use. Of the 1999 timber production, some 60 percent was derived from a small number of species. Actually, 66 species dominated felling in 1999. Since there is an increasing demand for tropical timbers, there is therefore the need to consider less well known but commonly found species such as Gmelina arborea which could be developed for commercial use. The lesser used species (LUS), offer a number of potential advantages to both Ghana and the international market. It was against this background that the physical and mechanical properties of fifteen (15) and thirty (30) years Gmelina arborea were determined to recommend the suitability of the species for furniture production and wood products. One (1) fifteen (15) and one(1) thirty30 years trees from a plantation in the Odomi Forest Reserve in the Ashanti Region were extracted. Logs from the trees were quarter sawn and further prepared according to the British Standard BS 373-1957. Test was conducted using Instron Universal testing machine and the results analyzed with origin 9.0. There were significant difference among the MOE (15years: 8665 N/mm2, 30years: 10875 N/mm2), MOR (15years:64.30N/mm2, 30years:69.16N/mm2). The mechanical strength properties increased from the top, middle to the butt same as the densities. To achieve maximum results in terms of the mechanical and physical strength it is recommended that species of 30 years and above should be considered, since the mechanical and physical strength properties improve as the tree ages.