ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the species, production, seasoning, defects, grading, physical properties, mechanical properties, etc. of wood sections. It also discusses different types of engineered wood products, such as sawn lumber, glulam, prefabricated I-joist, veneer, plywood, etc. The chapter includes the standard laboratory characterization methods, such as tension, bending, shear, etc. It introduces the design philosophy of wood structures for bending, shear, and tension. Wood is a widely used civil engineering material and is the most abundant renewable building material provided by nature. The term wood pertains to the hard and fibrous material which forms the trunk, large branches, and roots of a tree. Wood is an environmentally friendly civil and construction engineering material. The production of wood, its usage, and demolition do not adversely affect the environment as greatly as many other materials.
