Physical-mechanical characterization of tuturubá wood (Pouteria oblanceolate Pires)

Knowledge of the physical and mechanical properties of wood is crucial for the safety and efficiency of struc-tural design. In addition to promoting diversification and supply in the timber market, determining these prop-erties for different types of native woods can contribute to reduce the concentrated overexploitation of tropical woods. Among the woods available for construction purposes in the Tocantina region of Maranhao State is tuturuba (Pouteria oblanceolata Pires). In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of tuturuba wood for its use in building structures. The characterizations carried out were: moisture content, apparent density, compressive strength parallel and perpendicular to the grain, shear strength parallel to the grain, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity in compression parallel to the grain and three-point bending test. For the average moisture content, a percentage value of 13.88% was checked, and for the average apparent density, a value of 992.04 kg.m-3 was obtained. For the compressive strength parallel to the grain, an average value of 60.03 MPa was determined, while the characteristic value was 56.86 MPa. The compressive modulus of elasticity parallel to the grain determined was equal to 22761 MPa. The average values for compressive strength perpendicular to the grain and shear strength parallel to the grain were 10.74 MPa and 10.47 MPa, respectively. For flexural strength, average and characteristic values were 154.82 and 128.37 MPa, respectively. For the flexural modulus of elasticity, an average value of 21026 MPa was determined. The results allowed tuturuba wood to be classified in mechanical resistance class D50. Compared to other commercially available wood species, tuturuba has better mechanical properties than pequia (Cary-ocar villosum) and tauari (Couratari oblongifolia) woods. This physical-mechanical characterization high-lights the potential of tuturuba wood for use in structures.