Assessment of Strength Properties of Timbers used as Alternative to Conventional Timbers in Ekiti state South-western Nigeria
1,*Ojo, O. S., 2Omiata, T. R. and 1Lawal, T. A..
1,Department of Building, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
2Department of Building Technology, Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria
DOI: 10.36108/laujoces/5202.41.0111
Abstract
Despite the decreasing quantity of timbers available in the market, most especially timbers commonly used for structural purposes in building construction, the demand for housing is inversely proportional to the quantity of timber available for construction and due largely to higher deficit in provision of housing. This has led to construction professionals and sellers of timbers source for alternative, thereby using timbers originally not used for structural purposes. This study was carried out to examine the mechanical properties of these non-conventional timbers and compare with the conventional timbers. The timber samples tested were Mango (Mangiferaindica), Cassia (Cassia fistula) and Kolanut (Cola nitida). The mechanical properties tested were compressive, tensile and shear strength according to EN 338 (2016).This showed that Mango, Cassia, and Kolanut have compressive strength of 15.39N/mm2, 23.5 N/mm2, 21.9, N/mm 2, Bending strength of 42 N/mm2, 191 N/mm2, 100 N/mm2 and shear strength of 54 N/mm2, 272.5 N/mm2, 86.88 N/mm2respectively. The results were compared with conventional timbers, the three timbers have good bending strength of the same value as conventional timbers, shear strength of these timbers were better but they were all low in compression when compared with conventional timbers. This showed that whenever bending and shear strength were required these three could be used.
Keywords: Bending strength, Cassia, Compressive strength, Kolanut, Mango, Shear strength