BASIC STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ONCOSPERMA TIGILLARIUM AT SMALL CLEAR
Mohd. Faiz Jafni Bin Ahmad Mustafa
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours TA (Civil Engineering) 210 2014 M697 2014 P.ICHID"AT IIAICLU"AT AICADEIIIIC UNI"AS
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK IIIII1000268759Itttil"III ~'"I Grade: WKOI Please tick (..J) Final Year Project Report o Masters D PhD D
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Student signature: _-.''+-#fZa,....-79~,.'---___ Supemso, SignaturO~ fl't/07/2.01' (Date) "4''}' J..i 'y Current Address: ~ "'10, :fDl/QO DaS01< T;mwr, "'3.400 KtAc.b'l)" I iUtrlt WtlflC \ I Notes: * If the Project/Thesis is CONFIDENTIAL or RESTRICTED, please attach together as annexure a letter from the organization with the period and reasons of confidentiality and restriction. [The instrument is duly prepared by The Centre for Academic Information Services) ~ L I Pusat Khidmat l\-'akJumat Akadern;~ UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SAftAWAK BASIC STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF ONCOSPERMA TIGILLARIUM AT SMALL CLEAR MOHD. FAIZ JAFNI BIN AHMAD MUSTAFA Thesis is submitted to Faculty ofEngineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak In Partial Fulfillment ofthe Requirements For The Degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Civil Engineering) 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Allah Almighty for giving me the opportunity to breathe till this day to be able to complete this report paper. Alhamdulillah and may He bless us all. I would also like to extend my greatest thanks my parents, Rita binti Mohd Omar and Ahmad Mustafa bin Wahid for giving me moral as well as monetary support in order to complete this task. I am nothing without their kind contribution and prayers. Secondly, I would like to thank Dr. Gaddafi Ismaili for giving me the opportunity to work as his understudy and becoming my supervising lecturer. Thanks to all his guidance and assistance. I would not have reached his far without him. A million thanks to all my friends who have always been there for me through thick and thin. Thank you to Faculty of Resource Science and Technology (FRST), especially to Head of Department of Science and Environmental Ecology, Prof. Dr. Cheksum bt. Tawan and Mr. Hidir Marzuki who have assisted us for species ID identification. Thank you to all the lecturers at the Civil Engineering department for assisting me in any way possible. Not forgetting the Department of Asset and Department of Security of UNIMAS for allowing me to proceed with my research by approving the sample collection and constantly monitoring my progress during sample collection to ensure my safety. Without the concern of the fellow security guards, I may have not made it in one piece out of the wilderness ofUNIMAS. Thank you very much. Last but not least, I would like to thank the kind staffs and lab technician at the civil , engineering lab and also the laboratory technician from Sarawak Forestry Cooperate (SFC), including Mr. Nunggah, Dr. Alik Duju, Mr. Wong and Mr. Chai for their assistance. This report would not have been realized without the help from all the parties responsible. Thanks also goes to all those who have helped me directly and indirectly. Thank you and may we all live long and prosper. ABSTRAK Dalam dunia moden masa kini, hutan konkrit merebak dengan cepat sekali di seluruh dunia menolak hutan semula jadi keluar dari jalan. Konkrit menjadi bahan binaan yang semakin menuntut; Walau bagaimanapun harga konkrit tidak murah. Oleh itu, kayu, bahan binaan yang boleh diperbaharui dan mesra alam diminta keluar sebagai altematif dalam industri pembinaan. Seperti mana-mana bahan pembinaan lain, kayu mempunyai rintangan sendiri dari segi degradasi biologi, rintangan kimia, kestabilan dimensi, rintangan haba, luluhawa dan kerosakan. Walau bagaimanapun, jika dirawat dengan betul, balak boleh menjadi saingan sengit untuk konkrit. Selain itu, kayu mempunyai nilai estetika yang sangat tinggi berbanding dengan bahan-bahan pembinaan lain. Kayu keras adalah jenis kayu sering dipilih sebagai bahan struktur kerana ia mempunyai kekuatan yang lebih tinggi, tetapi memerlukan masa yang sangat lama untuk matang; kira-kira 100 tahun. Oleh itu, spesis kayu berkembang pesat dengan nama Oncosperma Tigillarium atau lebih dikenali dengan nama biasa, kelapa Nibong dipilih untuk dieksperimentasikan untuk menentukan sifat-sifat asas fizikal dan sifat mekanikal dalam mencari altematifkepada kayu keras. Oleh itu, satu siri ujian telah dijalankan ke atas specimen dalam keaadaan 'air-dry' Oncosperma Tigillarium untuk mengkaji sifat-sifat kekuatan seperti kekuatan lenturan, kekuatan mampatan selari dengan ira, kekerasan dan rintangan hentaman antara sampel dari 6 batang pokok berbeza. Ujian dijalankan mengikut Piawaian British BS 373: 1957. Spesimen diperolehi dalam kawasan kampus Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNlMAS). Ujian makmal telah dijalankan di Perbadanan Perhutanan Sarawak (SFC). Berdasarkan analisis data, Oncosperma Tigillarium menunjukkan ciri-ciri kekuatan yang setanding dengan kayu keras sederhana atau kayu keras yang lain walaupun ia dianggap sebagai 'non-worthy timber' . ii ABSTRACT In the modem world today, concrete jungles are spreading like wildfire all over the world pushing natural forests out of the way. Concrete becomes an ever demanded construction material; however the price of concrete is not cheap. Therefore, timber, a renewable and eco-friendly construction material is sought out as an alternative in the construction industry. Like any other materials, timber has its own setbacks in terms of biological degradation, chemical resistance, dimensional stability, thermal resistance, weathering and decay. However, if treated properly, timber can become a fierce adversary to concrete. Moreover, timber has a very high aesthetic value compared to other construction materials. Hardwood is the type of timber often chosen as structural material as it has higher strength, but requires a very long time to mature; about 100 years. Thus, a species of fast-growing timber of name Oncosperma Tigillarium or better known for its common name, Nibong palm is chosen to be experimented on to determine its basic physical properties and mechanical properties in the search for an alternative to hardwood timber. Therefore, a series of tests were conducted on air dry specimens of Oncosperma Tigillarium to study the strength properties such as bending properties, compressive strength parallel to grain, hardness and impact resistance between samples from different culms. Tests are carried out in accordance to British Standard 373: 1957 Method for testing small clear specimens of timber. Specimens were obtained within the vicinity of the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) campus. The laboratory tests were conducted at the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC). Based on the data analysis, Oncosperma Tigillarium shows strength properties which are comparable to other medium hardwood or even.. hardwood even though is it classified to be a non-worthy timber . iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT ii ABSTRAK iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF FIGURES x LIST OF ABBREVIA nONS Xlll Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 General 1.2 Problem Statements 2 1.3 Aims and Objectives 4 1.4 Scope ofWork 5 1.5 Chapter Outline 6 Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 7 2.1 General 7 2.2 Palm 8 2.3 Nibong Palm (Oncosperma Tigillarium) 9 iv Pusat Kbidmat MakJumat Akademjl UNIVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAh. 2.4 Moisture Content 10 2.5 Shrinkage 11 2.6 Grain 11 2.7 Basic Density 12 2.8 Static Bending Test 12 2.9 Other Non-worthy Timber (Bamboo) 15 2.10 Mechanical Properties 16 2.11 Hardness 16 2.12 Impact Bending Test 16 2.13 Modulus ofElasticity (MOE) 16 2.14 Modulus of Rupture (MOR) 17 2.15 Effect of Moisture Content in Mechanical 17 Properties Chapter 3 METHODOLOGY 18 3.1 General 18 3.2 Desk Study 18 3.3 Approval from Authorities 21 3.3.1 Problems Faced 22 3.4 Sample Collection 22 3.4.1 Tools and Equipment 22 3.4.2 Marking and Cutting 23 3.4.3 Problems Faced 27 v ...... ] 3.5 Transportation of Sample 28 3.6 Sample Preparation 31 3.6.1 Tools and Equipment 31 3.6.2 Vertical Band Saw Mill 31 3.6.3 Single Rip Machine 32 3.6.4 Digital Double-Sided Planer 33 3.6.5 Marking and Cutting 36 3.7 Sample Testing 36 3.7.1 Physical Properties 37 3.7.1.1 Moisture Content Determination 37 3.7.1.2 Basic Density Determination 38 3.7.2 Strength Properties 39 3.7.2.1 Static Bending Test 39 3.7.2.2 Compression Pamllel to Gmin Test 41 3.7.2.3 Janka Hardness Test 43 3.7.2.4 Impact Bending Test 45 3.7.3 Problems Faced 46 3.8 Results and Discussion 47 3.9 Conclusion and Recommendations 47 Chapter 4 RESUL TS ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 48 4.1 General 48 4.2 Oncosperma Tigillarium 48 vi 4.3 Testing Result of Small Clear Specimens of 49 Different Tree Culms 4.3.1 Compression Parallel to Grain Test 49 4.3.2 Static Bending Test 50 4.3.3 Impact bending Test 51 4.3.4 Janka Hardness Test 52 4.3.5 Moisture Content 52 4.3.6 Basic Density 53 4.4 Discussion 54 4.4.1 Comparison in Moisture Content of Oncosperma 55 Tigi/larium 4.4.2 Comparison in Basic Density of Oncosperma 56 Tigi/larium 4.4.3 Comparison in Compression Parallel to Grain of 57 Oncosperma Tigillarium 4.4.4 Comparison in Static Bending Test of 58 Oncosperma Tigi/larium 4.4.5 Comparison in Hardness Test of Oncosperma 59 Tigillarium 4.4.6 Comparison in Impact Bending Test of . 62 Oncosperma Tigi/larium 4.5 Overall Average 64 4.6 Mechanical Properties vs. Basic Density 66 vii Chapter 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 70 5.1 General 70 5.2 Conclusions 70 5.3 Recommendations for Oncosperma Tigillarium 71 5.4 Recommendations for Further Research and 71 Study REFERENCES 73 APPENDIX 77 viii LIST OF TABLES Table Description Page 3.1 Item Used In Sample Collection and Its Purpose 23 3.2 Items Used In Sample Preparation and Its Purpose 31 3.3 Moisture Content for Nibong Culm Samples 37 3.4 Static Bending Test Results Table 39 3.5 Compression Parallel-to-Grain Test Results Table 41 3.6 Hardness Test Results Table 44 3.7 Impact Bending Test Results Table 45 4.1 Specimen Numbering for Oncosperma Tigillarium Sample 49 4.2 Average Value ofCompression Parallel to Grain Test Result of 50 Different Tree Culms of Oncosperma Tigillarium in Air-dry Condition 4.3 Average Value of Static Bending Test Result ofDifferent Tree Culms 51 of Oncosperma Tigillarium in Air-dry Condition 4.4 Average Value oflmpact Bending Test Result of Different Tree 51 Culms of Oncosperma Tigillarium in Air-dry Condition 4.5 Average Value ofJanka Hardness Test Result of Different Tree Culms 52 of Oncosperma Tigillarium in Air-dry Condition 4.6 Average Value ofMoisture Content of Different Tree Culms of 53 Oncosperma Tigillarium in Air-dry Condition 4.7 Average Value of Basic Density ofDifferent Tree Culms of 54 Oncosperma Tigillarium in Air-dry Condition 4.8 Summary ofPhysical and Mechanical Properties of Oncosperma 64 Tigillarium in Sarawak 4.9 Comparison between Oncosperma Tigillarium with other Timber in 65 Borneo ix LIST OF FIGURES ~ Description ~age 1.1 A Structure Constructed Mostly ofTimber; Federal Center South 1 Building 1202, USACE Seattle District Headquarters 1.2 Deforestation 3 1.3 Oncosperma Tigillarium 4 2.1 Comparison Of C02 Emissions Related To Fabrication of One Beam 8 of Aluminum, Steel, Reinforced Concrete and Solid Wood 2.2 Nibong Posts and Joists at Bako Fishing Village, Sarawak 10 2.3 Static Bending Test Data on Small Clear Specimens 13 2.4 Modified Static Bending Test Data to 12 Percent MC 14 2.5 Static Bending Test: Force vs. Displacement Graph 15 3.1 Research Work Flow Chart 19 3.2 Location of Site for Sample Collection Within UNlMAS 20 3.3 Roadside of Sample Collection Site 20 3.4 Tools and Equipment for Sample Collection 22 3.5 Marking and Cutting of Nibong Palm Samples 24 3.6 Measuring 24 3.7 Cutting 25 3.8 Removal of Thorns 26 3.9 Stacking ofTrees 26 3.10 Cutting Trees Into 3 Segments 27 3.11 Security Guard Approaching 28 3.12 Ahed And Son Sdn. Bhd. 2.39 tons Lorry 28 3.13 , Security Guard Routine Check 29 3.14 Forklift 30 3.15 Stacking at Sarawak Forestry 30 3.16 Vertical Band Saw Mill 32 3.17 Single Rip Machine 33 3.18 Removing Pith 34 x II 3.19 Digital Double-Sided Planer 35 3.20 Transporting Samples to Lab 35 ~ 3.21 Labeling Samples for Final Cutting 36 3.22 Weighted Sample 38 3.23 Measured Sample 38 ~ 3.24 Static Bending Test on Sample 39 ~ I' 3.25 Sample During Static Bending Test 40 8 3.26 Sample after Static Bending Test 40 3.27 Sample during Compression Test 41 0 3.28 Sample after Compression Test (Type ofFracture) 42 ~ 3.29 Sample after Compression Test (Type of Fracture) 42 4 3.30 Sample after Compression Test (Type of Fracture) 43 ~ 3.31 Hardness Test Concept 43 ~ 3.32 Sample during Hardness Test 44 ~ 3.33 Sample after Hardness Test 44 0 3.34 Sample During Impact Bending Test 45 ~ 3.35 Sample after Impact Bending Test 46 ~ 4.1 Moisture Content of Different Oncospenna Tigillarium Culms 55 ~ 4.2 Basic Density of Different Oncospenna Tigillarium Culms 56 ~ 4.3 Maximum Load of Different Oncospenna Tigillarium Culms 57 ~ 4.4 Maximum Compressive Strength For Different Oncospenna 57 ~ Tigillarium Culms ~ 4.5 Maximum Load For Different Oncospenna Tigillarium Culms 58 8 4.6 Modulus OfRupture (MOR) For Different Oncospenna Tigillarium 59 ~ Culms 9 4.7 Modulus OfElasticity (MOE) For Different Oncospenna Tigillarium 59 0 Culms 0 4.8 Comparison Of Maximum Load, Modulus OfRupture (MOR) And 60 ~ Modulus OfElasticity (MOE) For Different On cos penna Tigillarium ~ Culms ~ xi I 1 4.9 Maximum Tangential Load For Different Oncosperma Tigillarium 61 Culms 4.10 Maximum Radial Load For Different Oncosperma Tigillarium Culms 61 4.11 Comparison Between Maximum Tangential And Radial Load For 62 Different Oncosperma Tigillarium Culms 4.12 Work Done In Joules For Different Impact Bending Specimens For 63 Different Oncosperma Tigillarium Culms 4.13 Maximum Load Compression V s. Density 66 4.14 Maximum Compressive Strength Vs. Density 66 4.15 Maximum Load Bending V s. Density 67 4.16 MOR Vs. Density 67 4.17 MOE Vs. Density 68 4.18 Tangential Hardness V s. Density 68 4.19 Radial Hardness V s. Density 69 xii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials BS British Standard FRIM Forest Research Institute of Malaysia SFC Sarawak Forestry Corporation FSP Fiber Saturation Point MOE Modulus of elasticity MOR Modulus of rupture MC Moisture content xiii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 General Timber is one of the oldest materials used in construction since the birth of construction technology. It is one of the most readily available materials in recent times. Timber was the main material used in construction before concrete and steel construction methods were discovered. Timber is divided into two, softwood and hardwood. Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees, strictly speaking non-monocot angiosperm trees while softwood is wood from gymnosperm trees. Figure 1.1: A Structure Constructed Mostly of Timber (Architizer, 2013) 1 Wood is easily handled; it has a long lifespan and nearly unlimited applications whether in construction or other usages. No other building material is produced and used with as little energy and damage to the environment as wood. Compared to other building materials, wood is light in weight and highly resilient. Countless bridges, towers and wooden structures all over the world bear witness to this statement. Wooden houses, roof trusses, walls, floors and stairs have been in use for generations. Wood dwellings over 700 years old, yet still inhabited today, are proofs of wood's lifelong durability as a building material. People choose to build with wood on the grounds of economy, aesthetics and biology. Wood radiates warmth and is harmless to the environment. , Additionally, modern construction methods do not require any chemical preservative of treatments. Timber construction materials undergo strict control checks concerning ~ s. quality and performance. The quality of many timber products is ensured by specific ~e l standards. Efficient prefabricating, smooth processing and constant availability make ~d construction with wood quick and economic. Building with wood is always the right ot choice (GermanTimber, 2007). Timber is without a doubt one of the most environmentally friendly building materials available in the environmentally challenged world we live in today. It is remarkably versatile, able to work well with other materials such as concrete and metal as composite structures. It is also naturally renewable but requires human ethics to preserve its renewability. Timber also has high aesthetic value and not to mention light and strong to build structures with. It also has an inviting, warm and welcoming sense which makes us feel cozy and comfortable. Whether it is a landmark building, government office, housing, school or hospital, architects look to timber to express contemporary art and beauty in the structure they design. Timber is a high performance material, light in weight, yet with excellent load bearing and thermal properties (Brash, 2008). 1.2 Problem Statement Deforestation and global warming are not a new epidemic in the modern world today. Vast development in developed and. developing countries are stripping the Earth of its forests. Timber is abundant in most countries especially tropical countries like in the Southeast Asia or South America. Although there are still abundant trees in the 2 world, it doesn't mean we can chop every tree we see just for our own personal gain. Mother Nature has taken care of us for generations; it's time for us to give back to Mother Nature. Figure 1.2: Deforestation (Compost, 2013) Most hardwood stands mature in 70 to 120 years. With proper management, renewing the forest takes less time. The time required to mature a hardwood tree depends on the species. An oak tree requires 80-120 years to mature, whereas a poplar tree can mature and be ready to harvest in 40 years or less (Unknown). It takes tens of years to grow a single hardwood tree, but it takes merely hours to chop down entire forests. Irresponsible logging is one of the major factors which affect the sustainability of timber as construction materials or other usages. Loggers who do not cut down the tree properly will cause the tree to not regenerate. Harvesting timber also requires skills. : Thus, an alternative to slow growing hardwood is required to compensate for the long time required to grow hardwood timber. Fast-growing timbers such as medium hardwood, light hardwood and softwood are being tested and experimented to find the most suitable alternative which could make timber the new concrete or steel. Oncosperma tigillarium is a very amazing-looking, tall, large, slender palm massed with armed trunks, armed trunks and beautiful, elegantly-arched, drooping, leathery fronds, which is sparsely distributed along the inland fringes of mangrove forest and other low, wet, swampy vegetation. Its trunk is slender, up to 15 centimeters in diameter, ringed 3 ·n. with old leaf scars, with up to 50, densely anned with scattered, slender black spines to that are about 5 to 10 centimeters long; crown shaft are conspicuous and anned with slender, black spines. Fronds are feather-shaped, ascending to spreading, pendulous, elegantly-arched, armed, and dark to bright green. Inflorescences are ramified (multi branched) and yellow, up to 80 centimeters long, infrafoliar (emerging from below the fronds) and anned. Its flowers are arranged in groups of 3 (2 male flowers to 1 female flower). Its fruits are globose, 1 centimeters in diameter, mildly-depressed, purple to black and single-seeded (Ridley, 2012). Oncosperma tigillarium's common name is Nibong palm in English or simply "Nibong" in Malay. Oncosperma tigillarium may prove to be a breakthrough in the search for new fast-growing timbers for construction purposes. It is available in abundance in the forests of Sarawak and can also be exploited for plantation of softwood timber and harvested for construction purposes. Strength properties at small clear will be tested for this tree species. tire lity the lis. the Figure 1.3: Oncosperma Tigillarium (Ridley, 1864) 'urn the ee\. 1,3 Aims and Objectives ith In this research report, the timber, with the scientific name Oncosperma ow, tigillarium or better known for its common name in Malaysia, 'Nibong' is one of the ged 4 Pusat Khidmlt Maddumlt Akademik UNlVERSrrl MAlAYSIA SARAW fast-growing timber available in the forests of Malaysia and also Indonesia where it is said to originate (Ridley, 2012). The main aim in this project is to investigate and acquire the information on the relationship of distribution patterns of strength and physical properties with small clear sample sizes ofthe Oncosperma tigillarium timber. Objective: 1. To determine the strength and physical properties at air-dry conditions of Oncosperma tigillarium, 2. To understand the relationship between the variation of strength from pith to sapwood of Oncosperma tigillarium, and 3. To identify the distribution pattern of strength and physical properties with Oncosperma tigillarium. 1.4 Scope of Work A series of study and laboratory tests are required to be done in order to achieve the aim and objective. In order to accomplish this, certain scopes of study of work shall be done so that the whole laboratory procedures can be run at a more systematic way. The test will be conducted by using 20 x 20mm (A) x 300mm (L) and 20 x 20mm (A) x 60mm (L) small clear size sample. Laboratory tests will be carried out to determine the strength and physical properties of Oncosperma tigillarium at air-dry conditions. The types of laboratory tests to be carried out are as in the table below: Table 1.1 Laboratory tests for strength and physical properties oftimber No. Laboratory Test Static bending test 2 Compression test 3 Moisture content test 4 Basic density test 5 Hardness test 5 ,.... is The sample of Oncosperma tigillarium to be used in this research study was collected in the wetland forest areas within the UNIMAS vicinity. The sample collection and sample preparation procedure are discussed more elaborately in Chapter 3. This research implements the standards from BS 373: 1957: Methods for Testing Small Clear Specimens of Timber. of 1.5 Chapter Outline This report consists of five chapters. Chapter one will focus on the importance of to timber and the role and contribution of timber in the construction industry. Chapter one shall also cover the problem statement, aim and objective, scope of works and chapter th outline. Chapter two consists of the literature review regarding this project. This chapter explains about the test that is listed under scope of works for further improvement. lYe Chapter three covers the methodology; where it elaborates on the methods used ~ Il in this research mainly sample collection and preparation. y. u Chapter four is results and discussion; this chapter shall convey the results ~e gathered from the series of laboratory tests and the discussions regarding the findings. !he Chapter five is conclusion and recommendation, this chapter explains about the conclusion of this research and recommendation on this research for further improvement. 6 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 General Due to its heterogeneity and species diversity, timber is a complex building material. Timber does not have consistent, predictable, reproducible and uniform properties as the properties vary with species, age, site and environmental conditions (Ahamada Zziwa, Yasin Naku Ziraba, & Mwakali., 2009). The demand for quality timber for construction will increase in Malaysia and other developing countries due to a boom in the building construction industry. With extreme exploitation and scarcity of traditional hardwood timber species such as chengal (Neoba/anocarpus heimii) and meranti (Shorea spp.), there is a diversity of previously unpopular species on the market. Zziwa et.al., (2009) revealed that there are 48 timber species on market and despite the big number, consumers prefer only 20%. The durability, integrity and safety of structures from such species cannot be assured. Reliable structural use of timber has always been hampered by lack of appropriate design codes and well-established standards. Timber is one of the oldest construction materials used. In Malaysia, timber used to be the main materials used to build houses, especially traditional Malay houses. Examples of landmark timber structures in Malaysia are Istana Lama which was built in 1902, Istana Kenangan Perak which was built in 1960 and lastly Kampung Laut Mosque , . which is over 300 years old. Until today, timber has been the preferable material used for the construction of residential areas in European countries and North America (Ahmad, 2011). Why should we build with timber? For. one, timber is a renewable resource. According to Ahmad (2011), the growth rate of commercial forests in North America is 7