Mechanical properties of coppiced and non-coppiced Pterocarpus erinaceus boles and their industrial application

Abstract

Rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir.) is valued for flooring, ornaments, musical instruments and furniture-making due to its durability, strength, beauty and acoustic properties. It coppices easily which could boost its continual supply. Compression parallel to grain, Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) and Modulus of Rupture (MOR) within coppiced and non-coppiced boles were determined. These properties decreased along both types of boles. Strength values for the heartwood were also greater than those for the sapwood of each type of bole. MOE, MOR and compression for non-coppiced stems were greater than those from the coppiced stems. The differences were significant (p < 0.05). Mechanical properties from the coppiced and non-coppiced boles are comparable. Both have strength properties comparable with those of species widely used for railway sleepers, structural supports, flooring, veneer, furniture, cabinetry, truss and mine props. Therefore, coppiced wood could supplement non-coppiced wood for industrial applications which require strength.

Keywords

Coppicing / Wood density / Mechanical property / Rosewood / Structural application

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