CHARACTERIZATION OF Corymbia citriodora WOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

The essences from sylviculture have been usually used for pulp and paper and charcoal industries. For this, the offer of higher value-added examples as structural parts for civil construction is essential. Anyway, this utilization needs to be secured by criteria prescribed by standard documents such as ABNT NBR 7190 (1997) used in this study. Hence, the present paper evaluated the Corymbia citriodora wood to promote its effective use in buildings from the analysis of fourteen mechanical properties and two physical properties. To check the variation of the properties with the moisture content, two conditions were adopted: the initial at 30% and the standard point at 12%, according to prescriptions of this cited Brazilian standard. In total, 2189 repeats were carried out. Seven properties showed visible improvements and influences and in resistance with the observed moisture reduction: perpendicular and parallel compression values and static bending in the modulus of rupture, parallel tensile in the modulus of elasticity, and those strength properties of shear stress, tangential cleavage and toughness. These efficient mechanical resistances evinced that Corymbia citriodora wood could be applied for civil construction, following the trends pointed out by literature.

Keywords

• lemon-scented gum, timber, moisture content, density, resistance