International Journal of Innovation and Development

Nexus of short rotation plantation tree acceptance, investor attraction, and environmental sustainability: the case of physical and mechanical properties of plantation teak for structural application

Peter Kessels Dadzie

Kumasi Technical University

Emmanuel Appiah-Kub

Akenteng Appiah-Menkah University of Skills and Entrepreneurial Development

Keywords: Environmental quality, Teak wood, Density, Plantation forestry, Forest depletion, Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 7

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Abstract

Trees play important roles in ensuring sustainable environmental quality for living things, including man. However, continuous overexploitation of the forest for timber, minerals among others is depleting tree stock and threatening the sustainability of environmental quality. Plantation forestry is being used to replenish degraded forest using teak as one preferred timber species. However, there is apparent inadequate information on short rotation plantation teak to aid user acceptance. The aim of this study is to provide information on physical and strength properties of plantation teak towards acceptance and utilization. Tenyear-old teak was evaluated in terms of its MC (using EN 13183-1:2004) and density -using ISO 3131:1973), bending MoE and MoR, compression, hardness, and shear strengths - using BS 373 protocols. Six trees were selected from a plantation in Kakum in the Central Region and processed for the study. Results indicated average values of 27.33%, 614kg/m3, 80 N/mm2, 12,914 N/mm2, 36N/mm2, 6.0 N/mm2, 14N/mm2 respectively for MC, density, MoE, MoR, compression, hardness, and shear strength. All but MoR were better than same properties for 50- to 70-year-old teak. The MoR, therefore, limits using the 10-year-old teak for relatively light structures such as furniture and not high load-bearing construction members like trusses or beams.

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Author Biographies

Peter Kessels Dadzie, Kumasi Technical University

Interior Design and Materials Technology Department

Emmanuel Appiah-Kub, Akenteng Appiah-Menkah University of Skills and Entrepreneurial Development

Wood and Construction Technology Department