Use of Timber In Engineering

Human has used timber or wood persistently throughout history and takes advantage of its many virtues even though the total biological and chemical properties are not well understood. Human used timber for basic survival such as shelter, fuel for fire, weapon, vehicle and tools because timber coexist with human and animals and can easily be obtained. Many archaelogical findings showed that there was an era known as the “stone age”, whereby that stone was used as cutting tools, spear and arrow head, and wheel. But timber is not given a proper recognition because there is no record of “timber age” in the human history even though timber is used as an important material to complement the stone tools. A stone axe could not be used effectively without a wooden handle, both tied with rope probably of roots or fibres from plant. Two wheels could not be used to move a vehicle if they were not connected with a wooden axle. And, an arrow or spear would be not called as such if a sharp stone was not tied at the end of a wooden stick. And also when a large rock was needed to be moved from a certain position that was blocking an entrance, for example, a wooden lever was needed to easily execute the task.