Bending Strength and Stiffness of Caribbean Pine from Trinidad and Tobago

Small samples of Caribbean pine wood grown in Trinidad were measured for specific gravity, modulus of elasticity, and modulus of rupture in bending. Core and outer wood and samples from along the length of the tree were studied. Mechanical properties and specific gravity varied along and across the trees. Linear relationships between specific gravity and mechanical properties were better for the outer wood than for the core wood. Core wood was weaker than outer wood. The bolts varied in properties along the tree, with a maximum in the second 2-m bolt