TIMBER : CIVIL

ENGINEERING
MATERIAL
TIMBER:
• The wood which is suitable or fit for engineering construction or
engineering purpose is called timber.

WOOD:
The organic matter obtained from trees is called wood

LUMBER:
The sawed wood meant for construction in the form of
boards is called lumber.
Structure of a Tree
 TYPES OF TREES:

Trees are classified into two groups depending upon

growth pattern.

(1) Endogenous trees: (2) Exogenous tress :

The trees which grow inwards • The trees which grow in out wards
in longitudinal fibrous mass across horizontal section of stem are
are called endogenous trees. called exogenous trees.
• These trees are only fit for engineering
construction.
• Exogenous trees are again subdivided in
to two types.
Conifers or Evergreen: Deciduous:

• These have hard wood.

• They give soft wood.
• These have broad leaves.
• They have pointed leaves.
Examples:
Examples: Teak, Sal, Shisham, etc.
Deodar Pine Chir Kail,etc
SEASONING OF TIMBER

• As fresh timber which is obtained from trees contains about 30

to 40 % sap or moisture.
• This sap is very harmful for the life of a timber.
• Therefore, it is necessary to remove that sap by applying some
special methods.
• All those methods which are used for removing the sap from
timber are collectively termed as seasoning of timber
Types of Timber Seasoning:

The main types of timber seasoning are as under.

(1)Natural Seasoning
(a) Air dry
(b)Water seasoning

(2) ARTIFICIAL SEASONING

(a) Kiln Seasoning,
(b) Chemical Seasoning,
(c) Electric Seasoning,
Timber Seasoning: A process to Get Dry Timber
There are two ways that timber may be seasoned:
• Air Dried Seasoning
• Kiln Dried Seasoning

There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods.

 Air dry Seasoning/Natural Seasoning:
• In the air seasoning or natural seasoning or
natural drying, seasoning of timber, timber is
dried by direct action of air, wind and sun.
• In this method, the timber logs are arranged
one over the other, keeping some space or
distance between them for air circulation of
fresh air.
• Generally this type of seasoning requires few
months to over a year, this is very slow
process.
Water Seasoning:

• In water seasoning, timber logs are kept

immersed whole in the flowing water.
• The sap present in timber is washed
away.
• After that logs are taken out from water
and are kept in open air, so water present
in timber would be dried by air.
• The time required for this type of
seasoning is 2 to 4 weeks.
Kiln Seasoning
Calculations on the percentage moisture content of pre-seasoned
(initial dry weight) and post seasoned (dry weight) timber can
be calculated using the following formula:
Initial dry weight - dry weight
___________________________ X 100
dry weight

If the weight of a piece of pre-seasoned timber is 20 kilos and its

post seasoning weight is 15 kilos then the percentage
moisture content of the timber is 33%.

Caution must be taken when seasoning timber to ensure that

overheating does not occur.
If overheating occurs then a form of case hardening may occur whereby
the outer ‘skin’ of the timber becomes excessively dry and brittle.
The diagram given opposite is of the airflow around a timber kiln.
Air is forced in a circular path around the kiln. As it circulates it
passes across a set of heaters that dry the air.
Because of the potential difference in the moisture content of the
timber and the air circulating around it, moisture is drawn out
of the timber into the air and expelled through vents.
Chemical Seasoning:
• In chemical seasoning carbon dioxide, ammonium carbonate or
urea are used as agents for seasoning, those are applied in dry
state, the inter surface of timber dries first than outer side.
• This ensures uniform seasoning.
• The time required for this seasoning is 30 to 40 days.
Electric Seasoning:

• In this method electric

current is passed through
the timber logs. The time
required for this seasoning
is 05 to 08 hours.
Advantages of seasoned timber:

• It has reduced weight, It is strong and durable,

• It has resistance to decay or rot, It takes high polish,
• It is easier to work, Its life is more.
DEFECTS IN TIMBER

•Most common defects in timber

are:
1. Heart Shakes
2. Star Shakes
3. Cup Shakes
4. Radial Shakes
5. Rind Galls
6. Wind Cracks
7. Knots
8. Dead Wood
(1) Heart Shakes:

• These are splits occurring in the center of

the tree and running from the pith (inner
most part) to wards the sap wood from the
medullary (vascular tissues) rays.
• In some timbers, these splits are hardly
visible and in some timbers these are quite
permanent.
• Heart shakes are caused due to shrinkage
of interior parts due to age. A heart shake
straight across the trunk is not a serious
defect.
(2) Medullary Rays:

• These are thin horizontal veins

radiating from the pith to wards
the bark.
• These carry sap from outer side
to inner side.
(2) Star Shakes:

• These are splits which radiate from the center of the timber or
from the bark (outer side), running in the planes of medullary
rays.
• These occur due to severe frost or scorching heat of the sun.
(3) Cup Shakes:

These are curved splits which

separate the whole or part of one
annual ring from an other. These
are caused due to the unequal
growth of the timber.
Cup Shakes
(4) Radial Shakes:
These are similar to the star
shakes and occur in felled timber
when exposed to the sun during
seasoning.
Radial shakes are generally
irregular, fine and numerous.
In this many splits are appeared.
Radial Shakes
Radial Shakes
(5) Rind Galls:
These are typical enlarged
swellings and occur due to
branches cut-off.
Rind Galls
Rind Galls
(6) Wind Cracks:
These are shakes or splits
on the sides of a bark of
timber due to shrinkage of
exterior surface exposed to
atmospheric influence.
Wind Cracks
(7) Knots:

These are the roots of the small

branches of the tree. These are not
harmful.
Knots
(8) Dead Wood:
It is the deficient in strength
and weight and is the result
of trees being felled after
maturity.
Dead Wood
DETERIORATION OF
TIMBER
(OR)
DECAY OF TIMBER:
DETERIORATION OF TIMBER
(OR) DECAY OF TIMBER:
There are so many agencies which
may cause decay of timber. But there
are three main harmful agencies
which cause timber decay.
(1) Decay or Rot:
Decay or rot of timber is the result of the
activity of various bacterias and fungi,
which utilize various portions of timber
as food; they require both oxygen and
excess moisture. Hence timber having
moisture content below 25 % will not rot
easily.
(2) Insects:
There are so many insects
which attack the wood, out of
them termites (white ants) are
the main insects which are very
dangerous for timber. Termites
of one class live under ground
and eat wood and forms tubes
or tunnels inside it.
(3) Fire:
Fire is also the damaging factor
for timber. As timber has
tendency to burn, so fire can
damage it easily.
PRESERVATION
OF
TIMBER
TIMBER PRESERVATIVES:
There are three main classes of timber
preservatives.
(1)Oily substances insoluble in water
(2)Water soluble salts
(1)Oily substances insoluble in
water:
Coal tar oil is the best known and widely
used preservative material of this
class. It is obtained during the
destructive distillation of bituminous
coal. It is available in many grades
and types. It has high degree of
penetration. It has highly toxic effect
to wood destroying fungi.
(2) Water soluble salts:
Zinc chloride is the most extensively
used preservative of this type. It is
clean and odourless.
SPECIAL PAINTS TO SAVE TIMBER
FROM FIRE:
Following paints are used to save
timber from fire.
Diammonium phosphate,
Mono ammonium phosphate, Mono
magnesium phosphate, Phosphoric
acid.
 METHODS OF APPLYING
PRESERVATIVES:
Before applying preservatives, the
timber should be completely seasoned.
There are some important methods of
applying timber preservatives which are
given below.
1.Painting and dipping method
2.Pressure process or full cell process
3.Empty cell process
(1) Painting and dipping method:
This is the most common method in
which the preservative material is
applied by means of a brush several
times. The timber is also immersed in a
tank full of liquid (preservative material).
In both types the penetration hardly
exceeds 1/16’’. The duration of
immersion and temperature of solution
is increased the penetration rate.
(2) Pressure process or full cell process:
In this process, the timber is placed in an air
tight chamber, from which air is with drawn
by creating a vacuum. The cells are full
emptied to receive preservative material.
After that preservative material is pumped
under pressure of 100 to 200 psi and at a
temperature of 120degreeF. As the timber
contains required quantity of preservative a
low vacuum is maintained to remove excess
preservative. Such a timber is generally
used in case of piles in salt water and
railway sleepers.
(3) Empty cell process:
This method is similar to the full cell
process but initial vacuum is not to be
maintained and no attempt is to be
made to remove the air from cells. The
preservative material is applied under
pressure of 200 psi.
USES OF TIMEBR:

1. Construction of Houses 8. For furniture making,

2. Construction of house posts, 9. For light packing cases,
10.For high packing cases (for
3. Construction of beams. machinery and similar
4. Construction of rafters. stores),
5. Construction of bridges. 11. For manufacturing of
agricultural implements,
6. Construction of piles, poles 12.For making toys, etc,
and 13.For manufacturing of
7. railway sleepers, veneers and ply woods.