Abstract
The Physical and mechanical properties of air-dried wood of three locally important exotic tree species viz. Acacia auriculiformis, Hevea brasiliensis, and Acacia mangium, widely preferred for mass scale plantations in Konkan region of Maharashtra were determined. It was found that the mechanical properties were generally higher for Acacia auriculiformis as compared to other two species in study. In Acacia auriculiformis, attributes such as specific gravity, compressive stress at limit of proportionality perpendicular to grain and end hardness of A. auriculiformis were also greater than the values reported for Teak (Tectona grandis). However, the physical and mechanical properties of Hevea brasiliensis and Acacia mangium were inferior to Teak, except end hardness of Hevea brasiliensis was superior than Teak.
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