Assessment in bending and shear strength of glued laminated timber using selected malaysian tropical hardwood as alternative to timber railway sleepers

Abstract

This paper presents a pilot study on bending and shear strength of glued laminated (glulam) timber using selected tropical timber namely, Kekatong (Cynometra spp.) and Melagangai (Potoxylon melagangai) as an alternative for timber railway sleepers. Selected timbers were manufactured in accordance with MS758:2001 and the bending test was conducted according to ASTM D198:2013. The shear test for glue line integrity was performed to observe the bond performance in glulam accordance to MS758:2001.The results showed both species can be used as structural members since the bending strength obtained from the laboratory work is greater than the allowable bending strength. In terms of the percentage of wood failure, the bonding characteristics of both glulam satisfied the bonding requirement stipulated in the standard and have the potential to be used as glulam timber railway sleepers.