Physical and mechanical properties of the stem and branch wood of West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)

This study examines the physical and mechanical properties of the sapwood and heartwood of the stem and branch wood of the West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis) to determine if the branch wood can be used for various products. Three mature Diospyros mespiliformis trees with stem diameters at...

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Main Authors: Joseph Zakaria, Francis Kofi Bih, Issah Chakurah, Kwaku Antwi, Clara Lily Korkor Tetteh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) 2024-12-01
Series:Les
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.uni-lj.si/les-wood/article/view/19573
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author Joseph Zakaria
Francis Kofi Bih
Issah Chakurah
Kwaku Antwi
Clara Lily Korkor Tetteh
author_facet Joseph Zakaria
Francis Kofi Bih
Issah Chakurah
Kwaku Antwi
Clara Lily Korkor Tetteh
author_sort Joseph Zakaria
collection DOAJ
description This study examines the physical and mechanical properties of the sapwood and heartwood of the stem and branch wood of the West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis) to determine if the branch wood can be used for various products. Three mature Diospyros mespiliformis trees with stem diameters at breast height ranging from 50 to 65cm and branch diameters from 25 to 40 cm were purposively selected and felled. Wood samples were prepared to the exact sizes in accordance to the chosen standards, tested, and analysed. The results showed that wood density was insignificantly higher in the stem wood (551 kg/m³) than the branch wood (513 kg/m³). Radially, the heartwood had higher density than the sapwood for both stem wood and branch wood. The Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) was higher in the branch part (7066 MPa) than stem part (1903 MPa), and the sapwood recorded higher MOE for both stem wood and branch wood. Moreover, the Modulus of Rupture (MOR) had a similar result, with the stem part showing a higher average MOR (61 MPa) than the branch part (52 MPa), the sapwood had higher values as compared to its corresponding heartwood. The same trend was observed for the compression strength as well as Janka hardness. In general, it was shown that the branch wood could equally perform well when used as a supplement to the stem wood.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0024-1067
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language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)
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spelling doaj-art-cd78da30ea764f61a2546bcf02b911692025-02-06T15:19:00ZengUniversity of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)Les0024-10672590-99322024-12-0173210.26614/les-wood.2024.v73n02a05Physical and mechanical properties of the stem and branch wood of West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)Joseph ZakariaFrancis Kofi BihIssah ChakurahKwaku AntwiClara Lily Korkor Tetteh This study examines the physical and mechanical properties of the sapwood and heartwood of the stem and branch wood of the West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis) to determine if the branch wood can be used for various products. Three mature Diospyros mespiliformis trees with stem diameters at breast height ranging from 50 to 65cm and branch diameters from 25 to 40 cm were purposively selected and felled. Wood samples were prepared to the exact sizes in accordance to the chosen standards, tested, and analysed. The results showed that wood density was insignificantly higher in the stem wood (551 kg/m³) than the branch wood (513 kg/m³). Radially, the heartwood had higher density than the sapwood for both stem wood and branch wood. The Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) was higher in the branch part (7066 MPa) than stem part (1903 MPa), and the sapwood recorded higher MOE for both stem wood and branch wood. Moreover, the Modulus of Rupture (MOR) had a similar result, with the stem part showing a higher average MOR (61 MPa) than the branch part (52 MPa), the sapwood had higher values as compared to its corresponding heartwood. The same trend was observed for the compression strength as well as Janka hardness. In general, it was shown that the branch wood could equally perform well when used as a supplement to the stem wood. https://journals.uni-lj.si/les-wood/article/view/19573Diospyros mespiliformis, branchwood, density, ebony, heartwood, sapwood, stem
spellingShingle Joseph Zakaria
Francis Kofi Bih
Issah Chakurah
Kwaku Antwi
Clara Lily Korkor Tetteh
Physical and mechanical properties of the stem and branch wood of West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)
Les
Diospyros mespiliformis, branchwood, density, ebony, heartwood, sapwood, stem
title Physical and mechanical properties of the stem and branch wood of West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)
title_full Physical and mechanical properties of the stem and branch wood of West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)
title_fullStr Physical and mechanical properties of the stem and branch wood of West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)
title_full_unstemmed Physical and mechanical properties of the stem and branch wood of West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)
title_short Physical and mechanical properties of the stem and branch wood of West African ebony (Diospyros mespiliformis)
title_sort physical and mechanical properties of the stem and branch wood of west african ebony diospyros mespiliformis
topic Diospyros mespiliformis, branchwood, density, ebony, heartwood, sapwood, stem
url https://journals.uni-lj.si/les-wood/article/view/19573
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