article · Journal of Scientific Research and Reports
Declining stocks of traditional timber in Ghana have prompted the search for underutilised tree species capable of meeting construction and furniture requirements. An assessment of Senna siamea and Azadirachta indica examined the mechanical performance of their sapwood and heartwood, measuring modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, compressive strength, and shear strength. Significant performance differences appeared between wood zones, with heartwood consistently displaying superior strength across all metrics. Azadirachta indica heartwood attained the highest modulus of rupture and shear strength, whereas Senna siamea heartwood achieved the highest modulus of elasticity and compressive strength. The physical properties of both species match or exceed those of commonly harvested commercial timbers in Ghana. Utilising these alternative timbers can relieve harvest pressure on overexploited commercial species while supporting sustainable forest management and reinforcing the competitiveness of the domestic wood sector.
Overharvesting of familiar commercial timbers threatens forest ecosystems and strains raw material supplies for builders and furniture makers. Demonstrating that widespread, lesser-utilised species like Cassia and Neem match the structural integrity of conventional woods provides alternative resources for local industries. This shift can help protect vulnerable forests from depletion while maintaining a steady supply of strong building materials.
This work identifies viable substitutes for commercial timber, directly applicable to furniture manufacturers and the building and construction sectors seeking alternative wood supplies. Because the findings are based on laboratory material testing that confirmed parity with commercial benchmarks, the research represents applied testing. Practical adoption will require timber processors and builders to source, mill, and incorporate these specific heartwoods into existing supply chains and manufacturing workflows.
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Traditional timber varieties employed in Ghana's furniture and construction sectors are diminishing in availability, necessitating the prompt identification and assessment of underutilised timber resources that exhibit similar structural capabilities. Senna siamea (Cassia) and Azadirachta indica (Neem) are notably underutilised, even though they possess significant potential for structural and furnishing uses. Moreover, the intrinsic anatomical and physiological distinctions between sapwood and heartwood could considerably affect their mechanical properties, necessitating thorough assessment. This research examined and contrasted the mechanical characteristics of sapwood and heartwood from S. siamea and A. indica, focusing on modulus of elasticity (MoE), modulus of rupture (MoR), compressive strength parallel to the grain, and shear strength parallel to the grain, while also comparing the findings with recognised commercial timber species in Ghana. A mixed analysis of variance (mixed ANOVA) demonstrated statistically significant distinctions (p < 0.05) between sapwood and heartwood across all assessed characteristics in both species, with heartwood invariably displaying enhanced mechanical performance. A. indica heartwood demonstrated the highest modulus of rupture at 104.25 N/mm² and shear strength parallel to the grain at 19.50 N/mm², while S. siamea heartwood displayed the maximum modulus of elasticity at 13,238.91 N/mm² and compressive strength parallel to the grain at 64.43 N/mm². Comparative analysis revealed that the mechanical characteristics of both species were similar to, and in some instances surpassed, those of commonly used Ghanaian commercial woods. These results confirm S. siamea and A. indica as viable alternative timber options for structural and furnishing uses. The heightened use of these resources may diminish reliance on overharvested commercial species, foster sustainable management of forest resources, and bolster the long-term resilience and competitiveness of Ghana's timber industry.
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DOI: 10.9734/jsrr/2026/v32i94450
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