| Abstract: | Abstract The present work reports on the main physical and mechanical properties of Pinus leucodermis mature wood, one of the least studied coniferous species in south-east Europe. Pinus leucodermis heartwood specimens were found to have average density values of 0.73 g cm?3 at equilibrium moisture content of 11.5% and average density of 0.64 g cm?3 under oven-dry conditions. The overall tangential shrinkage was 3.4% and the radial shrinkage was 1.9%. The modulus of rupture was on average 77 N mm?2, while the static modulus of elasticity averaged 7087 N mm?2. The hardness of P. leucodermis heartwood using the modified Janka test was 33.4 N mm?2 in the transverse direction and 48.0 N mm?2 in the longitudinal direction, while its compression strength parallel to grain was approximately 41.6 N mm?2. |
