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Blunting Effect
Boring
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
| |
Synonyms
Brachystegia randii
Common Names
Igonde, Igondi, Kaputu, Messassa, Miombo, Mkuti, Mputu, Mrihi, Mriti, Msasa, Mtondo, Mtondoro, Mtundu, Mtundu mweupe, Mubugu, Muhugu, Muhuhu, Mumanga, Mundu, Mupanda, Mupuhu, Muputu, Musasa, Musewe, Mutsatsa, Mutundoje, Mutuya, Mwekundu, Myombo, N'tnudu, Ndagula, Puti, Speciformis, Umutundu
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Beams, Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Flooring, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Medicinal use, Millwork, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Sub-flooring, Tables, Tannin, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels
Environmental Profile
| Status has not been officially assessed |
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Distribution Overview
Savanna forests of East Africa, mostly Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique; reaching from the coastal belt to the highlands.
Heartwood Color
| Red |
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| Yellow |
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| Orange |
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| Brown |
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| Purple |
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| Green/grey |
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| Reddish brown |
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| Pale brown |
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| Dark brown |
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| Brown |
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| Red |
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| Pale fawn |
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| Darkens upon exposure |
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Sapwood Color
| Yellow |
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| White |
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| Pink |
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| White to yellow |
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| Clearly differentiated from the heartwood |
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| Whitish |
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| Pinkish |
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Grain
| Figure |
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| Interlocked |
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| Distinct (figure) |
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| Irregular |
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| Interlocked |
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| Distinct figure |
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| Irregular and interlocked, producing a ribbon figure |
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Texture
| Fine |
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| Coarse |
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| Medium coarse to coarse |
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Luster
Natural Durability
| Very durable |
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| Resistant to termites |
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| Durable |
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| Susceptible to insect attack |
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| Resistant to marine borers |
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| Non-resistant to powder post beetles |
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| Resistant to powder post beetles |
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| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Non durable |
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| Susceptible to marine borer attack |
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| Moderately durable |
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| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present |
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| Very little natural resistance |
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| Susceptible to termite attack |
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| Susceptible to attack by fungi |
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| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree |
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| Pinworm (ambrosia beetle) often present in the felled log |
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| Perishable |
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| Durable |
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Odor
Toxicity
| Some toxic effects |
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| Non-toxic |
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Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed |
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| UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 |
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| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow |
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| T3 - C2 (4/4) |
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| T3 - C1 (8/4) US Schedule C (4/4) United Kingdom |
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Drying Defects
| Moderate surface checking |
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| Slight end splitting |
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| Moderate end spitting |
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| Slight twist/warp |
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| Severe end-splitting |
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| Tendency to split around knots |
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| Slight surface checking |
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| Slight spring/bow |
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| Slight collapse and honeycomb |
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| Severe twisting/warping |
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| Severe surface checking |
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| Moderate twist/warp |
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Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy |
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| Difficult |
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| Shrinkage Green to12% MC |
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| Radial and tangential shrinkage from 2-4% |
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| Dries well under good controlled conditions |
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| Dries slowly |
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Kiln Drying Rate
| Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) |
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Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
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Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
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| Bole length is 20-30 m |
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| Bole length is 10-20 m |
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| Tree height is 30-40 m |
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| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm |
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Blunting Effect
| Blunting effect on machining is moderate |
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| Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe |
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| Blunting effect on sawing is moderate |
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| Blunting effect on machining is severe |
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The wood has medium blunting effect on cutting tools because of its fairly high density and interlocked grain.
Boring
Cutting Resistance
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult |
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| Material with interlocked grain can be difficult. |
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| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate |
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| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
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Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to glue |
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Mortising
| Finishes well |
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| Difficult to mortise |
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Moulding
| Poor moulding results |
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| Difficult to mould |
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Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability - Small Movement |
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| Medium |
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| Fair stability in seasoned wood |
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Nailing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Pre-Boring Recommended |
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| Difficult to nail |
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| Possible if prebored |
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| Poor nailing properties |
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| Easy to nail |
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Planing
| Difficult to plane |
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| Planes to a poor finish |
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| Requires reduced cutting angle |
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| Planes well, to a good finish |
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Resistance to Impregnation
| Heartwood is extremely resistant |
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| Heartwood is resistant |
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| Sapwood is permeable |
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Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
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| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work |
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| Difficult to machine |
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Routing & Recessing
| Routing is difficult |
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| Finishes poorly |
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Sanding
| Good sanding finish |
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| Good sanding qualities |
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Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Good results |
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| Easy to turn |
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| Difficult to turn |
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Steam Bending
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Satisfactory results |
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| Smooth finish |
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| Good results |
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Staining
| Finish is generally satisfactory |
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Varnishing
Strength Properties
| Max. crushing strength = high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = medium |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium |
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| Hardness (side grain) = medium |
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| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium |
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| Toughness-Hammer drop (impact strength) = medium |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = small |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = small |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high |
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| Very heavy |
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| Max. crushing strength = medium |
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| Hardness = very high |
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| Dnesity (dry wieght) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Density = high |
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| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = very high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
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Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| | | |
| Bending Strength | 9158 | 15946 | psi |
| Density | | 50 | lbs/ft3 |
| Hardness | | 1761 | lbs |
| Impact Strength | | 42 | inches |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6628 | 9679 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | | 2250 | psi |
| Static Bending | | 7683 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1624 | 1981 | 1000 psi |
| Toughness | | 362 | inch-lbs |
| Work to Maximum Load | | 20 | inch-lbs/in3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.62 | 0.7 | |
| Weight | 50 | 49 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | | % |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 10 | | % |
| | | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| | | |
| Bending Strength | 643 | 1121 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | | 801 | kg/m3 |
| Hardness | | 798 | kg |
| Impact Strength | | 106 | cm |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 466 | 680 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | | 158 | kg/cm2 |
| Static Bending | | 540 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 114 | 139 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Toughness | | 417 | cm-kg |
| Work to Maximum Load | | 1.40 | cm-kg/cm3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.62 | 0.7 | |
| Weight | 801 | 785 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | | % |
References
Ackerman, D.P., Krogh, P.M.D.,1961,Brachystegia Species for Railway Sleepers,Forestry in South Africa N0.1 July, pp47-49
Alan Schwartz. Rio Rivuma, Boston, MA. Personal Communication, 1993.
Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45
Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa.
Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48
Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35
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
Bryce, J. and Kitambi, G.,1960,The Air-d |