17

Chapter 3

Physical Properties of Wood

Contents

1 Introduction

1 Introduction
Characteristics of Wood

The utilization of wood as raw material or in

finished product depends to a great extent on its
physical properties. Basically, all the physical and
mechanical properties of wood are determined by
different factors that are inherent within its structural
organization.
These include size, number and
distribution of cells (wood anatomy), the amount of
cell wall substance (density), amount of water present
(moisture content), and its chemical composition, all
contribute to the different properties of the wood.

2 Wood-Moisture Relations
3 Moisture Content of Wood
4 Fiber Saturation Point
5 Equilibrium Moisture Content
6 Density and Specific Gravity of Wood
7 Maximum Moisture Content of Wood
8 Shrinkage and Swelling of Wood
Volumetric Shrinkage and Swelling
Directional Shrinkage and Swelling
Relationship between Volumetric and Directional
Shrinkage

Principal Characteristics of Wood

Wood, regardless of the source, is cellular in
structure, and the chemical composition of the cell
walls is remarkably similar in that the principal cell
wall constituents of all woods, regardless of botanical
origin, are cellulose, non-cellulosic carbohydrates,
and lignin.
Wood is characterized by a high degree of
diversity and variability. Since it is a natural
product, i.e. biological in origin, its properties vary
between and within species. This maybe due partly
to genetic and environmental factors that influence
tree growth. In addition, the presence of knots,
earlywood and latewood zones, sapwood and
heartwood portions, and different cell morphology
make wood a very inhomogeneous material.
Wood is a hygroscopic substance, i.e. it has a
natural affinity for water in both liquid and vapor
form. This is due to the presence of hydroxyl (OH)
groups that exist throughout its structure, particularly
cellulosic and hemicellulosic portions of the wood.
The hygroscopicity of wood results in dimensional
changes (shrinkage and swelling) with fluctuations in
moisture content.

HO O
HO
H
O H
H H
O
OH H

OH

OH
H O
H
OH

HO
O
H

HO

HO

O
H H

H O
H
OH

OH
H

O
H
O
H
H
OH

Hydroxyl groups in cellulose and hemicelluloses

provide sites for water adsorption in wood.
MN Acda 2001

18
Wood is anisotropic in nature. It exhibits
different properties along different directions.
Specifically, wood is an orthotropic material, i.e. it
has unique and independent properties in three
mutually perpendicular axes (L, R, and T). This
property is due to different cell morphology and
orientation with respect to vertical and horizontal
axes of the tree stem and the different cellulose
orientation within the cell walls.

Wooden beam still intact after a big fire. Wood is

flammable especially when dry, however, it is a poor
conductor of heat and when used in big enough sizes
are resistant to fire.

2 Wood-Moisture Relations
The relationship between wood and moisture has
more significance in wood utilization than any single
property of the material. This is because the amount
of moisture in wood practically affects all of its
physical properties.
Types of Water in Wood
Water in wood exists in three forms depending
on how and where it is being held.

Anisotropic property of wood is due to different cell

morphology and orientation with respect to vertical
and horizontal axes of the tree.
Wood is biodegradable, i.e. it is susceptible to
the attack of fungi, insects and other wood destroying
microorganisms. This could be an advantage when
wood become unserviceable and need to be disposed.
However under the right conditions, wood can be a
very durable material. Wood has been documented
to survived thousands of years inside the pyramids of
Egypt and in the temples in Japan.

1. Bound water - water adsorbed by the cell wall

from the surrounding air. Water molecules are
adsorbed on the surfaces of the crystallites and on
the amorphous regions of the cellulose by hydrogen
bonding. The attraction is due to the partial charges
on the oxygen (O) and the hydrogen (H) of both
water and cellulose. The crystalline regions only
allow water to be adsorbed on its surface since it is
strongly attracted to adjacent cellulose chain.
Changes in bound water content affect almost all
properties of wood.
2. Free water liquid water contained in the cell
lumen; free water occurs when wood is green or
very wet. Changes in free water content have little
effect on wood properties, principally affected are the
acoustical, thermal and electrical properties.
3. Water vapor water in vapor form found in the
lumen and intercellular spaces within the cell wall.

Wood is combustible; it is flammable especially

when dry. Matchstick sizes burn readily but larger
sizes are resistant to fire. This is because wood is a
poor conductor of heat and the char that forms
beneath a burning surface is poorer. This provides a
degree of safety in the early stages of a building fire
where occupants can be evacuated and fire put under
control.

Under the right conditions, wood is very durable.

Wooden sarcophagus and furniture inside the
pyramids of Egypt remained in good condition even
after several millennia.

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19
tropics, wood indoor would have about 12-15% MC
and outdoor about 15-18% MC.
Moisture content can also be expressed on wet
basis or original weight basis, i.e.:
MC = Weight of water/Original weight
%MC = (Ww / Wi) x 100
% MC = (Wi-Wo)/ Wi * 100

Various forms of water present in wood: bound, free

and water vapor.

3 Moisture Content of Wood

Wood is a hygroscopic material, that is, it loses
and gains moisture as a result of changes in
atmospheric humidity and temperature.
The
honeycomb structure of wood allows it to absorb
large amount of water, as much as two or three times
the weight of the wood substance itself. This ability
of wood to absorb or to lose water is dependent on
the temperature and the relative humidity of the
surrounding atmosphere. As a consequence, the
amount of moisture in wood fluctuates with changes
in atmospheric conditions around it.
The amount of water contained in wood
expressed as a percentage of the ovendry weight of
the wood is called moisture content. Moisture
content influences both physical and mechanical
properties of wood. Thus, it is of importance in
understanding and predicting the behavior of wood in
service.
Moisture content can be expressed as follows:
%MC = (Ww/Wo) x 100
Since Ww = Wi -Wo
% MC = (Wi - Wo)/ Wo * 100
where

Ww = weight of water
Wi = initial weight
Wo = ovendry weighr

The ovendry weight is used as basis because it

indicates the total solid wood substance in a piece of
wood and it is constant even when the amount of
moisture changes. This method is commonly used in
solid wood industries such as lumber and plywood
where the primary concern is the amount of wood in
a log. Note that on this basis, the MC can exceed
100%. In living trees, the moisture content of wood
may range from 30% to more than 200%. In the
MN Acda 2001

This method is commonly used in the pulp and

paper and wood energy industries where the primary
concern is the weight of logs during transport. Note
that on this basis, moisture content can never reach
100%.
Conversion:
MCod = MCwet/(100-MCwet) x 100
MCwet = MCod/(100+MCodt) x 100

Common Methods of Determining MC

There are two common methods used to
determine moisture content, viz., ovendrying method
and the use of electrical moisture meters.
1. Ovendrying Method
The ovendrying method is generally the accepted
method for laboratory work and as standard for
calibrating other methods. This involves simply
weighing the specimen before and after ovendrying
to constant weight at 103C. Constant weight is
taken as no further loss in weight when a specimen is
weighed to an accuracy of 2 percent at 2-hour
intervals. MC is computed as follows:
% MC = (Wi - Wo) / Wo x 100
Ovendrying method gives reliable indication of
moisture content, however, it is destructive, takes at
least 24 hours to complete, requires expensive
apparatus and may give incorrect results with species
with high extractive content.
2. Electrical Moisture Meters
Electrical moisture meters are based on the
fundamental relationship between moisture content
and electrical properties. Three types of moisture
meter have been developed: the resistance type, the
capacitance type and the power loss type.
Resistance type moisture meters use the
relationship between moisture content and direct
current resistance of wood. These meters are
basically ohmmeters capable of reading high values

20
of electrical resistance.
As moisture content
decreases from 30% to ovendry condition, the
electrical resistance decreases by a factor of 10
million. However, in this range a linear relationship
exists between the logarithm of resistance and the
logarithm of moisture content. This relationship is
used in the design of resistance type moisture meters.

ease of operation and non destructive nature make

them well suited for industrial applications.

Sample Problems
Problem 1: A piece of green Apitong wood weighs
25 g. It is dried in a constant temperature oven at 102
3C until repeated weighing showed no further loss
in weight. If the constant weight is 15 g., what is the
moisture content?
Problem 2: A series of moisture meter readings
indicate that the average MC of White Lauan is 16%.
If its weight is 46 lbs, what weight of water does it
contain?
Problem 3: Test showed that the ovendry weight of
almon is 40 g. How much will it weigh if it absorbs
moisture up to 30% MC?

Change in electrical resistance with varying moisture

content in wood.
To measure the electrical resistance, the wood
specimen is arranged as an element in an electrical
circuit. Most common models require two contact
points with the wood, using either pin-type or
surface-contact electrodes and give direct meter
reading, calibrated in percent moisture content.

Problem 4: A thousand board feet (1 BF = 1 x 12

x 12) of green White Lauan lumber, at an average
MC of 45%, weighs 7,500 kg. How much will it
weigh if it is dried to 15% MC?
Problem 5: A thousand board feet Taguile lumber
weighs 4,150 lbs. at an average MC of 60%. What
will be the loss in weight if it dries to an average MC
of 8%?
Problem 6: Consider a situation where 40,000 bd ft
of lumber, weighing 3,800 lbs per MBF when green,
is to be shipped. The shipping cost is $3 per hundred
pounds. The lumber is estimated to have an average
of 60% MC when green. How much money would
be saved in shipping cost if these lumber were dried
to 15% MC prior to shipping?

4 Fiber Saturation Point

Resistance type moisture meters are commonly used

for their ease of operation and non-destructive
nature.
The capacitance type uses the relationship
between moisture content and the dielectric constant
of the wood while the power loss type uses the
relationship between moisture content and the
dielectric loss factor of the wood. Both types are
classed as dielectric type moisture meters.
Although less precise than ovendry method, and
affected by species, density, moisture distribution,
thickness, temperature, etc., the rapid moisture
content determination with electrical moisture meter,
MN Acda 2001

When wood absorbs moisture (liquid or vapor

form), it is first taken up into the cell wall. As more
water enters the spaces in the cell wall structure, a
point is reached when the cell wall becomes saturated
and no more liquid can enter. This condition is called
fiber saturation point (FSP), i.e. the moisture
content wherein the cell wall is saturated with water
and no water is present in the lumina (about 30% for
tropical woods). Water entering wood above this
point is contained in the cell lumina as free water.
Practical Significance of FSP
FSP serves as an index or transition point for
some physical and mechanical properties.
For
instance, it determines the point of dimensional
changes that occur in wood. As wood losses bound
water below FSP, there is a corresponding increase or

21
decrease in sectional dimensions resulting in
shrinkage or swelling. Above FSP, there is no
change in dimension.
Shrinkage
0%
FSP
Swelling

No change

Mmax
No change

Lumen

H2O
H2O

Cell wall

H2O

H2O
H2O

Lumen
H2O

H2O

H2O

Practical Significance of EMC

The moisture content requirement depends upon
the use of the lumber or wood products either in the
interior of buildings or outdoors and also upon the
climate. The recommended moisture content of
wood in service is intended to reduce changes in
moisture content to a minimum, thereby minimizing
dimensional movement due to shrinkage and
swelling. For the most trouble-free use of wood, the
goal should be to fabricate wood at the moisture
content it will average during that application i.e.
drying the wood to the equilibrium moisture content
(EMC) of the locality or the place where it will be
installed. The estimated EMC of wood in various
parts of the Philippines is shown below.

15%
19%
15%
18%

Schematic illustration of FSP with the cell wall

saturated with water and lumen devoid of water.
Other examples include strength properties,
density, specific gravity, etc. All these properties
exhibit a dramatic change at the FSP.

5 Equilibrium Moisture Content

Wood has the ability to adsorb water vapor from
the surrounding air until it is in equilibrium with the
moisture present in the air. If the air then becomes
drier, the wood will lose (desorb) moisture until it
again comes into equilibrium. The moisture content
wherein the wood establishes a dynamic equilibrium
between water absorption (condensation) and water
desorption (evaporation) at a given temperature and
relative humidity is called the equilibrium moisture
content (EMC). At this condition the wood is
neither gaining or losing moisture.

H2 O

Desorption

Adsorption

H2 O
H2 O

Wood

Schematic illustration of moisture movement in wood

to achieve equilibrium moisture content.
MN Acda 2001

16%
17%

18%
16%

Typical values of EMC around the Philippines

6 Density and Specific Gravity

Density and specific gravity of wood refer to its
weight per unit volume. Although they are calculated
differently they are often used interchangeably. The
density or specific gravity of wood is of practical
interest because it influences most physical properties
of wood. It is also the best single criterion of wood
strength. However, since both the weight and
volume of wood vary with moisture content, the
calculation of woods density and specific gravity is
more complicated than that for other materials.
Density of wood is usually calculated on the
basis of weight and volume at the same moisture
content, i.e.:
m = Wm/Vm

(kg/m3, lbs/ft3)

22

where

m = density of wood at given MC

Wm = weight of wood at given MC
Vm = volume of wood at given MC

Thus, densities at ovendry condition and 12%

moisture content are written as:
o = Wo/Vo

12 = W12/V12

Initially, as MC and volume increases, the

density also increases proportionally up to the FSP.
Above FSP, there is a rapid increase in density with
increase in MC since continued uptake of water will
result in continuous increase in weight with no
change in volume.
D or G

Spec. Grav.

Mmax

Variation in density and specific gravity with changes

in Moisture Content
Specific gravity (G) is usually defined as the
ratio of the density of the material to that of water at
4 C (relative density).
Since the density of wood is m = Wm/Vm , thus,
G = (Wm/Vm )/w
= Wm/w Vm
However, since both weight and volume of wood
vary with MC, recognized standard procedure
prescribed that specific gravity be based on the
ovendry weight of the wood. In this case the
numerator will be relatively constant within the same
species of wood, i.e.
Gm = Wo/w Vm
where: Gm =specific gravity of wood at some MC
w = density of water; 1 g/cc; 1,000 kg/m3;
62.4 lbs/ft3 at standard temperature
Vm = volume at some moisture content MC
Since the volume of wood is a function of MC, it
follows that specific gravity also varies with MC.
MN Acda 2001

Go = Wo/w Vo; G12 = Wo/w V12.

Specific
gravity
of
wood
decreases
proportionally with decreasing moisture content up to
the FSP. Above FSP, specific gravity remains
constant since continued uptake of water will result
in no change volume. Thus, the highest specific
gravity wood can attain is when it is at ovendry
condition.
Practical Significance of Density and Specific
Gravity
Generally, specific gravity and density are often
used interchangeably. However, these terms have
precise and different definitions although they refer
to the same characteristic.

Density

FSP
%MC

Thus, the moisture content for which specific gravity

calculation are based should be indicated. For
example,

Specific gravity serves as index of strength

properties. The strength of wood, including stiffness,
increases with increase in specific gravity. Thus,
comparison based on specific gravity can be made to
evaluate strength properties of different species of
wood. It is also an index of dimensional stability.
Shrinkage and swelling, in general, is directly related
to the specific gravity of wood. Wood with high
specific gravity do not glue well, difficult to machine
and finish compared with woods with low specific
gravity.
Other wood properties affected by specific
gravity are pulp yield, thermal insulation and
conduction properties, fuel value, electrical
properties, sound transmission, gluing and drying
behavior, etc.
Classification of Wood According to Specific
Gravity
Light
Moderately Light
Moderately Heavy
Heavy

Specific Gravity
< 0.36
0.36 - 0.50
0.36 - 0.50
> 0.50

If the green specific gravity is known, the

specific gravity at any moisture content below FSP
can be estimated as shown below.

23

Sample Problems
Problem 7: The weight of an Ipil board measuring 5
cm x 10 cm x 1.0 m is 3 kg at 30% MC. What is its
specific gravity at 30% MC?
Problem 8: A piece of Almon measures 2" x 3" x 6'
at 8% MC. If its specific gravity is 0.65, what is its
corresponding weight?
Problem 9:
Debarked, green Bagtikan log
measuring 12 inches in diameter and 8 feet in length
has a green specific gravity of 0.55. What is its
weight at 15 % MC?
Problem 10: A cable can support as much as 2,000
lbs of cargo. Bagtikan boards measuring 4" x 8" x 6'
conditioned to 12% are to be lifted using this cable.
If the density of Bagtikan at 12% MC is 55 lbs/ft3,
determine the maximum number of boards that can
be lifted in one loading.

1.0

Spec. Grav. of
Water

0.9

Malabayabas
Yakal-saplungan

0.8

Yakal-gisok
Kamagong

0.7

Molave
Apitong

0.6
Southern yello pine
Tamarack

Model airplane made from balsa wood. Balsa is one

of the lightest weight wood in the world - only 6-9
pounds per cubic foot. It is not only the lightest, but
also the softest and most porous wood in the lumber
industry.
The Guiness Book of World Records lists
Aeschynome hispida (native to southeast Asia and
once upon a time used for pith helmets) as the
worlds lightest wood with an specific gravity of
0.044 so that 1 cubic foot of wood would weigh 2.75
lbs. The worlds heaviest wood is South African
Ironwood (Olea laurifolia, a member of the Olive
family- Oleaceae) reported to have a specific gravity
of 1.49, with 1 cubic foot of wood weighing 90+ lbs.

Douglas fir
Western hemlock
Eastern spruce
Redwood
Eastern white pine
Western redcedar

Narra
0.5

0.4

Bagtikan
Tanguile
White Lauan
Spanish cedar

0.3

Balsa

0.2

0.1

Mean specific gravity of some common hardwood

and softwood species. Specific gravity is a good
indicator of strength properties.
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7 Maximum Moisture Content

The condition wherein the cell wall is saturated
with water and the lumina are completely filled with
water is known as waterlogged condition. The
moisture content where this condition occurs is the
maximum moisture content of wood, Mmax. Mmax is
dependent on the amount of wood substance and can
be shown to follow relation:
Mmax = (1/Gg + 0.65) x 100

8 Moisture Content at which Wood

Sinks in Water
The specific gravity of water is unity,
consequently any wood with green specific gravity
exceeds this value will not float (called sinkers).
Consider 1 cc of green wood with weight equal
to 1 gram. Therefore its density is 1 g/cc. Any pickup of moisture will cause the sample to sink, hence
the minimum MC at which wood will sink in water
can be derived from this unit specimen.
With density and volume equal to 1 g/cc, the
ovendry weight is,
Wo = Gg
By substitution to the basic MC equation,
Mmin = Wg - Wo/ Wo x 100

9 Shrinkage and Swelling of Wood

As wood loses moisture below the FSP, water
molecules are removed from the cell wall structure
and the microfibrils in the S-2 layer of the cell wall
move more closely together causing the cell to
shrink. Conversely, when the cell wall gains
moisture, water molecules move into the cell wall,
causing the S-2 layer microfibrils to become further
apart, thus resulting in swelling. Thus, shrinking of
the cell wall, and therefore of the whole wood, occurs
as bound water molecules escape from the long chain
cellulose molecules. These chain molecules can then
move closer together upon water absorption. The
amount of shrinkage that occurs is generally
proportional to the amount of water removed from
the cell wall. Swelling is simply the reverse of this
process.
Shrinkage or swelling is responsible for the
binding or loosening of wooden members, and the
formation of cracks. Doors and drawers frequently
stick in the rainy season when the relative humidity is
high causing the wood to swell. On the other hand,
the high temperature and low humidity during
summer induce drying and shrinkage resulting in
loosening of joints in wooden furniture and change in
shape of wooden members.
Volumetric Shrinkage and Swelling
Volumetric shrinking and swelling are expressed
as a percentage of the original dimension before the
change occurred. Thus,
% Vol. Shrinkage = decrease in volume x 100
original volume

But since Wg = 1 gram and Wo = Gg, therefore

% Sv = V/Vi x 100
= (Vi-Vf) / Vi x 100

Mmin = (1 - Gg)/Gg x 100

Mmin = (1/Gg 1) x 100

Sample Problems

where: % Sv = volumetric shrinkage

Vi = initial volume
Vf = final volume
Similarly,

Problem 11: A white lauan log has a green specific

gravity of 0.40. What is the possible maximum MC
that this log could attain?
Problem 12: At what minimum MC will a cubic
foot of Apitong begins to sink under water if its
specific gravity based on green volume is 0.65?
Problem 13: Toog logs are reported to have an
average green specific gravity of 0.63 at 80 % MC.
Is the average log a "sinker"?
MN Acda 2001

% Vol. Swelling = increase in volume x 100

original volume
% sv = V/Vi x 100
= (Vf-Vi) / Vi x 100
where: % sv = volumetric swelling

25

Directional Shrinkage and Swelling

Wood exhibits shrinkage and swelling
anisotropy i.e. it has different shrinkage and swelling
values along different axes of the wood (tangential,
radial and longitudinal directions. Thus,
% S = decrease in sectional dimension x 100
initial sectional dimension
% S = D / Di x 100
= (Di-Df ) / Df x 100
where: %S = %ST or %SR or %SL
Di = Ti or Ri or Li
Df = Tf or Rf or Lf

Directional changes have direct bearing on wood

utilization than volumetric changes. For instance,
directional shrinkage results in distortion from the
true plane (warping) when wood dries. Checking
and splitting due to excessive drying stresses can
also be traced to uneven shrinkage. These problems
are of considerable importance to sawmill operators
who are constantly confronted with shrinkage-related
problems.
Problem 14: The dimensions of a piece of flat sawn
Almon lumber before kiln drying were 2.25" x 6.50"
x 12'. After drying, the lumber shrunk to 2.18" x 6.0"
x 12'. Calculate the following:
a. % tangential shrinkage
b. % radial shrinkage
c. % volumetric shrinkage

Similar relations can be derived for directional

swelling. In general,
%ST > %SR > %SL
% SL = 0.1-0.3%
% SR = 6-12%
% ST = 2SR
The longitudinal shrinkage of normal wood is
negligible for most practical purposes. Such changes
are insignificant in the direction parallel to the grain,
the direction most important in structures. This is
due to the low microfibril angle in the cell wall.
However, reaction and juvenile woods tend to shrink
excessively along the grain.
Tangential shrinkage is greater than radial
shrinkage by a factor between 1-3:1. Several
anatomical characteristics are believed responsible
for this differential, including presence of ray tissue,
frequent pitting on radial walls, domination of
latewood in the tangential direction, and differences
in the amount of cell wall material in the radial and
tangential sections.

Characteristic shrinkage and distortions of flats,

squares androunds as affected by the directions of
the growth rings.
Relationship Between
Directional Shrinkage

Volumetric

and

Volumetric shrinkage (Sv) is slightly less than

the sum of the three directional components. The
following relation gives an estimate of Sv as multiple
of ST, SR and SL.
Sv SL + SR + ST - STSR/100
If the last term STSR is neglected and since SL is
negligible, therefore,
Sv SR + ST

Tangential and radial shrinkage with changes in

moisture content
MN Acda 2001

The above relation also applies to wood

swelling. Ordinarily, ST is approximately twice SR,
hence the ratio ST/SR or more commonly called T/R
ratio is used to describe shrinkage behavior of wood.

26

It can also be shown that the amount of

directional shrinkage or swelling can be expressed by
the equation,
%S = change in MC * rate of shrinkage

%s = change in MC x rate of swelling

%s = (Mi - Mf)*(%smax/Mf)
where

%S = (Mf - Mi)*(%Smax/Mf)

%Smax = shrinkage from green to ovendry

%smax = swelling from ovendry to green
Mf = FSP

for swelling,
Mean Specific Gravity and Shrinkage Values of Selected Philippine Hardwoods*
Species

Specific.
Gravity**

Radial
Green to 12%
MC

Shrinkage (%)
Green to OD

Phil. Mahogany
Almon
0.42
1.5
3.1
Bagtikan
0.48
2.0
4.0
Mayapis
0.42
1.8
3.5
Red Lauan
0.44
2.0
3.6
Taguile
0.45
2.2
4.1
Tiaong
0.33
0.6
2.2
White Lauan
0.42
1.9
3.7
Apitong Group
Apitong
0.64
4.3
7.0
Hagakhak
0.52
2.0
4.0
Malapanau
0.57
3.0
5.3
Panau
0.62
3.3
5.9
Guijo Group
Guijo
0.69
2.6
5.2
Malaguijo
0.71
3.7
6.7
Yakal Group
Yakal-gisok
0.80
2.8
5.9
Yakal-mabolo
0.74
2.9
5.7
Yakal saplungan
0.88
1.1
4.3
Others
Agoho
0.84
2.6
4.6
Almaciga
3.2
5.1
Balobo
0.64
2.2
4.6
Balsa
0.31
2.2
3.5
Dalingdingan
0.62
2.3
4.5
Dao
0.54
1.4
3.6
Kaatoan bangkal
0.33
1.0
2.1
Kamagong
0.78
3.5
6.5
Magabuyo
0.56
1.2
3.2
Mahogany,bigleafed
0.54
1.3
3.2
Malaanonang
0.46
1.8
3.4
Malabayabas
0.91
5.1
9.1
Malugai
0.53
3.1
5.2
Manggachapui
0.64
1.8
4.4
Manggasinoro
0.41
1.5
3.1
Molave
0.70
1.9
4.5
Moluccan sau
1.5
2.7
Narig
0.66
1.8
3.9
Narra
0.53
0.9
2.7
Palosapis
0.52
2.1
4.3
Pine, Benguet
0.47
2.5
5.0
Pine, Mindoro
13.8
6.1
Raintree
0.46
1.0
2.2
Spanish cedar
0.37
2.3
4.0
Teak
0.49
0.7
2.2
Tiaong
1.8
3.9
Tuai
0.56
2.8
4.4
Villamil nato
0.50
2.3
4.3
*Values are averages and may differ slightly from location to location.

MN Acda 2001

Tangential
Green to 12%
MC

Shrinkage (%)
Green to OD

4.4
4.4
4.9
4.7
4.9
3.7
4.4

7.5
7.7
7.8
7.2
7.7
7.0
7.5

8.9
6.0
6.7
7.2

12.9
9.8
10.4
11.3

6.3
6.7

10.7
11.0

6.0
5.7
3.0

10.4
10.1
8.1

3.7
4.2
4.8
4.0
5.4
3.4
3.5
5.6
2.3
1.7
4.6
6.6
6.1
3.9
4.1
3.0
4.0
4.9
1.4
6.4
4.2
5.5
2.3
4.6
1.5
4.3
7.2
4.0

6.0
6.4
8.4
6.0
9.2
6.8
5.9
9.6
5.0
4.2
7.6
10.6
8.8
7.7
7.2
6.5
6.2
9.0
4.0
10.5
7.8
8.9
4.5
7.0
3.9
8.2
9.8
7.1

27

10 References
Haygreen, J. G. and J. L. Bowyer. 1982. Forest
Products and Wood Science: An Introduction. The
Iowa State Univ. Press.
Kollman, F.F.P and Cote, W.A. Jr. 1968. Principles of
Wood Science and Technology Vol. 1. New York:
Spinger Verlag.
Panshin, A. J. and C. de Zeeuw. 1980. Textbook of
Wood Technology. 4th ed., McGraw-Hill Book
Co.
Schniewind. 1989. Concise Encyclopedia of Wood
and Wood Based Materials
Siau J.F. 1995. Wood: Influence of Moisture on
Physical Properties. Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University
Skaar, C. 1972. Water in Wood. Syracuse Press.
Syracuse, NY.
Tsoumis, G. 1991. Science and Technology of Wood:
Structure, Properties, Utilization. Van Nostrand
Reinhold.
USDA Forest Service. 1987. Wood Handbook: Wood
as an Engineering Material. Forest Products
Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

MN Acda 2001