Red oak

Origin: United States.

Latin name.
Quercus alba.

Natural vegetation area.
Various species of the Quercus (Oaks) botanical genus grow in the United States. They are never considered singularly, but are marketed in two groups with the following denominations: Red Oaks and White Oaks.
The Red Oaks group dominates mainly in the southern regions.

TRUNK CHARACTERISTICS.
Large sized trees. They reach heights of 25-30 metres, with diametres up to 90 metres.
The shape and bearing of the trunk are irregular and basically feature the same aspect as deciduous European oaks.

WOOD APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS.
The sapwood may be brownish, grayish or whitish, whereas the heartwood draws towards reddish in the red oaks. Pith rays are marked in all species.

Specific weight in the fresh condition.
In the fresh condition 950 kg/m³ on average; after normal seasoning 650 kg/m³.

Histological structure.
Coarse texture, mostly straight grain except in proximity to knots.

Shrinkage.
From medium to high.

Mechanical characteristics.
Axial compression strength 50 N/mm² on average; bending strength 105 N/mm²; hardness from medium to high; the impact behaviour is good.

Modulus of elasticity.
12,500 N/mm²

Most frequent structural defects and alteration.
Irregular shape of the trunks, abundance of big knots, internal stresses.

Durability.
Red oaks wood is much more subject to biological degradations, unlike white oaks.

 

Texts taken from: “Manuale tecnico del legno”, FNALA CNA LEGNO LEGNO, by Prof. Ing. Guglielmo Giordano.

 

Species available for the following products