WORKING STRESSES OF MAHOGANY (SWIETENIA MACROPYHLLA KING) PHILIPPINE WOOD SEASONED FOR 45 DAYS

ANDRES N. MANAOIS JR. ROJIE V. LACUESTA MICAHEL VLADIMIR V. BUENAVENTURA

OCTOBER, 2012

Introduction Philippines is reach of natural resources one of which is timber. Timber is very useful most especially when building materials like cement, aggregates and the like is not available in a certain area; thus, it is the last resort in the construction of houses or shelters. The National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP) established by the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) discussed and set standards in the design of timber structures. ASEP based the codes and standards with the standards of ASTM, etc. NSCP entails the design procedure in proportion with the obtained strength of Philippine timbers. Using standardized procedure they determine the working stresses for visually-graded unseasoned timber for the reason of safe design. Working stresses are bending and tension parallel to the grain, compression parallel and perpendicular to the grain, shear parallel to grain and modulus of elasticity. But sometimes because timbers are located in mountainous area, thus, making it hard for harvest and availability, it will take a period of time for the lumber to be delivered in the construction site. Is it safe when the design of timber is based on NSCPs working stress of unseasoned wood and yet timbers in the construction site undergo a period of time of season after harvest? With the above question the researcher was motivated to determine the working stresses of seasoned Mahogany after 45 days.

Objectives The main purposed of the study is to determine if Mahogany seasoned 45 days will have a greater working stress compared to NSCP standards. Specifically it aims to determine the following working stresses: 1. Bending 2. Shear 3. Compression Perpendicular to the grain 4. Compression Parallel to the grain 5. Tensile 6. Moisture Content Methods The specimen was taken at Kiangan, Ifugao and is more or less 20 years old. After harvest the specimen was seasoned for 45 days (air dried) and was prepared for testing. Testing Equipment use was the Universal Testing Machine. Moisture Content was also determined. 1. Bending test Size: 2 x 2 x 30

2. Shear Parallel to the grain

3. Compression Perpendicular to the grain Size: 2 x 2 x 8

4. Compression Parallel to the grain Size: 2 x 2 x 8

5. Tensile Test Size: 1 x 1 x 15

6. Moisture Content Moisture Content was determined by weighing the sample and then placing in the oven for 24 hours. After the drying, weight of sample is again determined.

Results 1. BENDING TEST Specimen no. 1: Dimensions: Width: 51 mm Depth: 52 mm Length: 763.5 mm Load(KN) 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.18 Deflection at Mid-span (mm) 2 4 6 8 18 27 31 51.30 Bending Strength at Failure(MPa)

Specimen no. 2 Dimensions: Width: 54 mm Depth: 54 mm Length: 764 mm

Load(KN) 1 2 3 4 5 6 6.90

Deflection at Mid-span (mm) 3.5 5 6.5 8.5 10 13 19

Bending Strength at Failure

50.22

Specimen no. 3 Dimensions: Width: 51 mm Depth: 54 mm Length: 765 mm Load(KN) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7.14 Deflection at Mid-span (mm) 2.5 5 7 8.5 10.5 13.5 17 18.5 55.09 Bending Strength at Failure

Mahogany Average Magnitude

Load(KN) 6.74

Deflection at Mid-span (mm) 34.25

Bending at Failure (MPa) 52.20

2. SHEARING TEST Specimen No. 1 2 3 Average Magnitude Sheared Area mm2 (b x d) 53 x 53 52 x 53 53 x 53 Load at Failure (KN) 20.34 17.74 16.60 18.23 Shear Stress (MPa) 7.24 6.44 5.90 6.53

3. COMPRESSION PERPENDICULAR and PARALLEL TO THE GRAIN TEST Specimen no. Compressive Strength Perpendicular to the Grain (MPa) 7 8 10 8.33 Compressive Strength Parallel to the Grain (MPa) 24 31 27 27.33

1 2 3 Average Magnitude

4. TENSILE TEST Specimen No. 1 2 3 Average Magnitude Area mm2 (b x d) 51 x 52.5 54 x 54 51 x 54 Load at Failure (KN) 31.86 21.28 24.8 25.98 Shear Stress (MPa) 42 26 32 33.33

5. MOISTURE CONTENT No. of Specimen Original Weight, grams Oven Dry Weight, grams 1 490 338 2 488 362 3 494 354

Mahogany Average Magnitude

Original Weight 490.67

Oven Dry Weight 351.33

Moisture Content 39.66 = 40%

Findings Based on the result the following was determined: 1. The bending stress at the failure is 52.20 MPa. The bending stress exceeds the NSCP Standard which is 16.5, 13.0 and 10.3 MPa for 80%, 63% and 50% stress grade respectively. 2. The shear stress at the failure is 6.53 MPa. The shearing stress exceeds the NSCP Standard which is 2.71, 2.13 and 1.69 for 80%, 63% and 50% respectively.

3. The compressive stress perpendicular to the grain at failure is 8.33 MPa. The compressive stress parallel to the grain exceeds the NSCP Standard which is 10.5, 8.24 and 6.54 MPa for 80%, 63% and 50% respectively. 4. The compressive stress parallel to the grain at failure is 27.3 MPa. The compressive stress perpendicular to the grain exceeds the NSCP Standard which is 3.83, 3.01 and 2.39 MPa for 80%, 63% and 50% respectively. 5. The tensile stress parallel to the grain at failure is 33.33 MPa. The tensile stress parallel to the grain exceeds the NSCP Standard which is 16.5, 13.0 and 10.3 MPa for 80%, 63% and 50% stress grade respectively. 6. The moisture content is 40% of the weight of the specimen.

Conclusion Based on the findings the following was concluded: 1. That the 45 days-seasoned mahogany is stronger than unseasoned with regards to its working stresses determined. 2. That the standard set by NSCP is very safe because it was based on unseasoned timber. 3. That the less the moisture contents of the mahogany it becomes stronger until it reaches its optimum moisture content and optimum strength. 4. That mahogany is strong in bending compare with compression and shearing.