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Physical and mechanical properties of wood

Short answer

Physical properties include colour, density, moisture content, shrinkage, thermal, electrical, acoustic, durability, and workability. Mechanical properties include compressive, tensile, bending, shear strength, modulus of elasticity, hardness, toughness, and resistance to splitting and fatigue.

List out different types of physical and mechanical properties of wood.

Physical properties

  1. Colour, smell and appearance (grain, figure, lustre).
  2. Density and specific gravity.
  3. Moisture content, hygroscopic nature (absorbs and loses moisture).
  4. Shrinkage and swelling (dimensional change).
  5. Thermal properties: conductivity, expansion and fire resistance.
  6. Electrical and acoustic properties (insulating, sound absorption).
  7. Durability: resistance to decay and insects.
  8. Workability and finishing.

Mechanical properties

  1. Compressive strength (parallel and perpendicular to the grain).
  2. Tensile strength.
  3. Bending strength (modulus of rupture).
  4. Shear strength.
  5. Modulus of elasticity (stiffness).
  6. Hardness.
  7. Toughness and impact strength (resilience).
  8. Resistance to splitting, cleavage and fatigue; creep under long-term loads.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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