Unleashing The Potential: Investigating Tensile Strength Grade Stresses In Structural-Sized Malaysian Tropical Timber In Accordance To BS EN 408

Abstract

There is no direct measurement of tensile strength have been determined for Malaysian tropical hardwood. The usual approach is to consider the tensile strength of timber as 60% of the small clear specimen's bending strength values, as specified in MS 544: Part 2:2001. However, this method proves inadequate for engineering applications as it fails to provide precise and accurate values. Therefore, in this study, nine (9) species of Malaysian tropical hardwoods were selected namely Balau (Shorea spp.), Kempas (Koompassia Malaccensis), Kelat (Syzygium spp.) Kapur (Dryobalanops spp.), Resak (Vatica spp.), Keruing (Dipterocarpus spp.), Mengkulang (Heritiera spp.), Light Red Meranti (Shorea spp.) and Geronggang (Cratoxylum spp.). The specimens were tested in structural sizes and subjected to tensile strength testing in accordance with BS EN 408:2010. Subsequently, the results were transformed into grade stresses following the guidelines of MS 544: Part 3. The lowest mean tensile strength (42.23N/mm2) and Modulus of Elasticity (11972N/mm2) was obtained by the lowest density timber Light Red Meranti while the highest mean tensile strength (84.46N/mm2) and highest Modulus of Elasticity (21329N/mm2) was obtained by the high density Kempas species although not excelled by the highest density of the investigated species. The evaluation also indicated that the grade stresses of the structural specimens in this study surpass those published in MS 544: Part 3.