Abstract
Abstract
Rubber tree (
Hevea brasiliensis
) is a tropical plant, and rubberwood, as a timber, has great utilization potential. In Bangladesh, despite its large potential, limited research has so far been carried out to investigate the properties of rubberwood in terms of seasoning conditions and growing zones. This study investigated selected physical (density, moisture content, volumetric shrinkage) and mechanical (modulus of elasticity (
MOE
), modulus of rupture (
MOR
), compressive strength, shear strength parallel to the grain, and Janka hardness) properties of rubberwood in green and air-dry (AD) conditions, which were harvested after the latex extraction period ended. In addition, differences between samples collected from four geographic locations (Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, and Tangail) and three different stem heights were considered. Logs from three 32-year-old rubber trees were collected from each of the four sites, totaling 12 sample trees. After felling, the trees were delimbed, and the stems were cut into three logs: bottom (0.5–3.5 m), middle (3.5–6.5m), and top (6.5–9.5m). The logs were then band-sawn into planks with an approximate thickness of 5.08 cm. The planks were further reduced to specimen sizes for each test. After air-drying, all specimens reached an equilibrium moisture content of approximately 12%. Stem height and site conditions had a substantial impact on wood density and mechanical characteristics. Wood collected from the bottom logs and in Tangail had considerably higher (
p
MOE
,
MOR
, compressive strength, hardness, and shear strength. Wood specimens from Chattogram and Sylhet exhibited, on average, better mechanical properties than those from Cox’s Bazar and Tangail. This study offers site-specific data for rubberwood in Bangladesh, emphasizing the combined effects of stem position and site heterogeneity, even though the overall patterns are consistent with accepted wood science concepts. The results highlight the opportunities of rubberwood in the woodworking sector, as this study contributes to the understanding of the variability of rubberwood properties, with useful insights for optimizing raw material selection and utilization of wood sections for specific applications.