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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. Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Turning Scientific Name Terminalia aemula Trade Name Biress Family Name Combretaceae Synonyms Terminalia hildebrandtii, Terminalia kilimandscharica Common Names Biress, Leh-heli, Mbambaro, Mbombaro, Mkurungu, Muhuku, Muumba, Mwangati, Terminalia Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Kenya, Tanzania Common Uses Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Mine timbers, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Toys, Veneer Heartwood Color Brown White Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color Red Brown White White to yellow Well defined Grain Interlocked Figure Stripe (figure) Striped figure Interlocked Texture Fine Fine Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Moderate surface checking Slight twist/warp No end splitting Kiln Drying Rate Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as poor Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Mortising Difficult to mortise Moulding Difficult to mould Movement in Service Medium Nailing Possible if prebored Holds nails well Planing Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Difficult to machine Turning Difficult to turn Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Work to Maximum Load = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10732 16695 psi Density 47 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Shearing Strength 2419 psi Stiffness 1512 1745 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 9 12 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 46 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 754 1173 kg/cm2 Density 753 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 170 kg/cm2 Stiffness 106 122 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.63 0.84 cm-kg/cm3 Weight 737 592 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7 Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tanzania Forestry Department,1963,Timbers of Tanganyika - Syzygium guineense,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi - Timbers of,Tanganyika Tanzania Forestry Department,1966,Timbers of Tanganyika - Terminalia aemula,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi - Timbers of,Tanganyika