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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Shorea robusta Trade Name Aswakarna Family Name Dipterocarpaceae Common Names Aswakarna, Bolsal, Borsal, Damar de l'Inde, Dammer, Dieng blei, Gugal, Guggilam, Guggilapu, Gugilam, Hal, Halarong, Jargi, Kandar, Korah, Koroh, Kucha pucca, Kungiliyam, Mulappumarutu, Pinjal, Pirjal, Rinjal, Sakher, Sakhu, Sakwa, Sal, Sal tree, Sala, Saluva, Salwa, Sarai, Sarei, Sargi, Sarja kamu, Sarjom, Sarjum, Sekwa, Shal, Soringhi, Takral, Teturl, Thamba Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bangladesh, Burma, India, Nepal Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Millwork, Mine timbers, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Vats, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color White Grey Reddish brown Brown Sapwood Color White to yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood Grain Interlocked Distinct (figure) Figure Even Straight Texture Coarse Medium Luster Dull Natural Durability Very durable Moderately durable Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=G US=T8B3/T5B1 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Moderate end spitting Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Severe end splitting Ease of Drying Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Kiln drying rate (green to 12% mc) is rather slow, typically from 18-28 days for a board under 32 mm, to 52-84 days for a board 63 mm and thicker. Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Movement in Service Medium Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain)=very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10821 16814 psi Density 51 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2078 lbs Impact Strength 49 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5242 7974 psi Shearing Strength 2158 psi Stiffness 1823 2102 1000 psi Weight 50 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 760 1182 kg/cm2 Density 817 kg/m3 Hardness 942 kg Impact Strength 124 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 368 560 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 151 kg/cm2 Stiffness 128 147 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 801 641 kg/m3 References Browne, F.G.,1955,Forest Trees of Sarawak and Brunei and their Products.,Government Printing Office, Kuching, Sarawak Chaturvedi, A.N.,1975,Crown width, stem diameter and tree height in Sal (Shorea robusta,Indian Forester 101(7) pp396-8 Chowdhury, K.A., Ghosh, S.S.,1958,Indian Woods: Their identification, properties and uses Vol. I,Dilleruaceae to Elaeocarpaceae,Manager of Publications, Delhi, India Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Franco, E.J. Sampaio,1965,Sur l'Aptitude de quelques Bois Africains a l'Emploi dans les Travaux,Maritimes et la Construction Navale. (The suitability of some African,timbers for use in maritime structures and ship building.,Min. Das Obras Publicas, Lab.Nac. de Engenharia Civil Lisbon,,Memoria.,No.243 pp19 Fundter, J.M.,1982,Names for Dipterocarp timbers and trees from Asia,Pudoc, Wageningen, Netherlands Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London Gupta, M.K.,1966,Rayon grade pulp from Indian hardwoods part II processing of Kydia,calycina (pula,Indian Pulp and Paper 20(6) pp403-6 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Limaye, V.D.,1933,The Physical and Mechanical Properties of woods grown in India (Third,Interim Report on Project 1,Indian Forest Records,18(10,pp1-70 Negi, G.S., Bhatia, D.N.,1958,Physical and Mechanical Properties of Woods tested at F.R.I. Report No.10,Indian Forest Records (N.S.) Timber Mechanics,1(11,pp171-18 Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols Ramesh, Rao K., Juneja, K.B.S.,1971,Field Identification of Fifty Important timbers of India,Dehra Dun India Rawat, B.S., Rawat, N.S.,1960,Physical and Mechanical properties of woods tested at the Forest Research,Institute, Dehra Dun Report XI,Indian Forestry Records (NS) Timber Mechanics 1(12) Rehman, M.A.,1941,Experiments on the air-seasoning and notes on the passing of sal sleepers,Indian Forest Bulletin. Utilization (N.S.) 97 Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Sekhar, A.C., Rajput, S.S.,1968,Physical and mechanical properties of sal (Shorea robusta) from fourteen,diffrent localities in India,Indian Forester 94(2) pp175-85 Sekhar, A.C.,1967,Some Indian Timbers Equivalent to Foreign Timbers,Van Vigyan 5(1&2,pp18-24 Tewari, M.C., Jain, J.C.,1980,Utilization of Secondary Species,Journal of the National Building Organization 25(2) pp1-6 Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition