Physical and mechanical properties of European Hophornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.) wood.

The main purpose of the study was to determine some physical and mechanical properties of European Hophornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.) wood of which is not any detailed previous research in the literature. The sample trees harvested from a mixed beech-oak-hornbeam stand in the Zonguldak Forest Enterprises, north western part of Turkey. Conventional methods followed and the test procedures were performed on small clean specimens. European Hophornbeam wood's air dry and over dry densities were determined as 890 and 853 kg m(-3); density value in volume (basic density) was determined as 671 kg m(-3); volumetric shrinkage and swelling were determined as 23.02% and 24.94%; Fiber saturation point (FSP) was found 34.21%; MOR, MOE, compression strength parallel to grain, impact bending, tensile strength parallel and perpendicular to grain, and Janka hardness values (parallel and perpendicular to grain) were determined as 131.50 N/mm2, 11501.06 N/mm2, 66.94 N/mm2, 18.66 N/mm2, 105.49 N/mm2, 7.11 N/mm2, 6.89 and 5.63 kN, respectively.