ASSESSING AXIAL VARIATION OF SOME PHYSICAL, ANATOMICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF 10, 15 AND 20-YEAR-OLD TEAK (TECTONA GRANDIS) WOOD.

ABSTRACT 

The wood industries in Ghana have been using teak wood harvested from different rotation 

ages ranging from 10 to 50 years. The optimal age of teak used for various wood productions is not known. The aim of this research was to assess selected physical, 

anatomical and mechanical properties of plantation teak of different ages (10, 15 and 20

years) grown in the guinea savanna ecological zone in Ghana. Same samples species were 

used for determination basic density, air dry density, oven dry density and the mechanical 

properties. Mechanical strength test samples were prepared and tested in accordance with the British standard (BS373: 1957). The range of mean strength values were as follows: 

Modulus of Rupture; 73N/mm2, 71N/mm2 and 80N/mm2for the 10, 15 and 20-year-old teak 

respectively. Modulus of Elasticity respectively values were 10404N/mm2, 9433N/mm2 

and10017 N/mm2 Compression parallel to grain were 49, 54 and 52N/mm2 respectively 

and shear parallel to grain: 16, 15 and 14N/mm2 respectively. The relationship between teak wood properties and age of trees was not apparent. This suggests that other factors 

may influence the wood properties of teak trees. In general wood properties of young teak 

10 and 15-years were not inferior to the ones from older plantation 20-years. Based on their 

physical wood properties, 10 and 15-year-old teak can be acceptable for wood production. 

The fibre length varies between the ages of the teakwood, ranging between 0.77µm for the 20-year-old and 0.913 µm for the 15-year-old. . MoE correlated positively and significantly 

with fibre width (r = 0.48, p< 0.05 and double wall thickness (r = 0.50, p< 0.05). 

Unexpectedly, both air dry density and basic density correlated positive with MoE and 

MoR.