Shear Block Test Performance of Melunak and Mengkulang Parallel to Glueline

Abstract

This experimental research is conducted on shear strength performance of glue laminated timber parallel to glue line using Malaysian tropical hardwood Melunak and Mengkulang. The objective of this research was to determine the shear strength values of Melunak and Mengkulang with the observation and comparison of the wood and glue failure percentage of both species. Total 30 numbers of wood specimens which; 15 numbers of wood for Melunak and 15 numbers of wood Mengkulang. The block specimen dimension was 50x50x50mm, then tested using a shear block fixtures and Universal Testing Machine (UTM). The Malaysian Standard, MS758:2001 was used in conducting shear block test and to obtain the shear strength values for both specimen. Both wood tested specimen results in 9.05% different in its shear strength values, where Melunak average shear strength was higher 0.92N/mm2 than Mengkulang. Test result of shear failure to grain direction in both specimen shows that failure occurred in wood was due to wood surface area. The Melunak average percentage failure of wood and glues area 93.7% and 6.3% respectively. While for Mengkulang average failure percentage for wood and glue area were 89.7% and 10.3% respectively. The difference in result of wood failure of both specimen area directly related to the density of specimens, in which Mengkulang wood has a higher density than Melunak. Both specimens reached to its minimum shear strength capacity that was about 6N/mm2 set by the Malaysian standard MS758:2001. Both Melunak and Mengkulang wood tested specimen results in 9.05% different in its shear strength values, where Melunak average shear strength is higher about 0.92N/mm2 than Mengkulang.