Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Along with the celebrated history in the field of construction in the world, wood has
been a building material for hundreds of years. The stability of timber structures is influenced
by their reliance on external factors as it’s a hygroscopic material. Where the moisture content
has an impact on almost every structural parameter, including strength, stiffness, and
dimensional stability. It is also extremely vulnerable to biological degradation caused by
insects, fungi, and bacteria affecting the molecular structure.
These scarcities were undertaken in traditional wooden structures in a significant, yet
sensitive manner in a tropical country like Sri Lanka. The durability of traditional wooden
constructions exists under a highly appreciable status. In a tropical environment, the prolonged
physical sustainability of wood is a challenging task. These show a greater degree of tolerance
in the harsh tropical environment. Empirically expressive information sources were
investigated, therefore structures for shelters were selected for further analysis.
In this case, Tampita Vihara (the shrines on pillars), Devala (shrines dedicated to
deities), Ambalam (resting places for travelers), and Mandapa (the assembly spaces for
administrative practices) of which physical remains are still available in a relatively preserved
state of standing evidence were carefully chosen. Numerous literature findings are documented
on their religious beliefs and the significance of their architecture. But the structural engineering
aspects relevant to material perspectives have not been studied adequately.
A holistic investigation of timber in construction was carried out using knowledge from
traditional vernacular buildings. Traditional vernacular
v
1
construction relied on a thorough
awareness of the surrounding environment, as well as the characteristics of locally available
materials and manual labor. Traditional people are essential stakeholders in forest management
because they are often economically, socially, and culturally reliant on forests. This resulted in
building artisans attaining a profound knowledge of the utilization and manipulation of
materials.
This study examines the state of the structures, which entails a thorough understanding
of past and present conditions. The goal of collecting extensive data from various typological
structures is to establish a knowledge basis for the future. Field survey analysis around Sri
Lanka was conducted to accumulate and consolidate the traditional vernacular timber
processing and preservation technologies.
Results disclosed wood logs burying under paddy field mud as a well-established
technique to treat wood. As well, three dominant plant species were identified as Mikania
micrantha, Titonia diversifolia, Gliricidia sepium assorted with paddy field mud to enhance the
properties before treatment. Further, the field survey results and the microscopic investigations
proved Mangifera indica wood was used for roof elements utilized after the above treatment in
traditional vernacular structures with in the use life range 40 to 50 years. This showed its
potential to be used for structural applications after proper treatment.
Finally, an experimental trial was performed to evaluate the traditional vernacular
technology with amendments, reinventing two types of wood preservatives based on the
material matrix as plant extracts assorted with paddy field mud and only plant extracts obtained
for water.
This combination of traditional vernacular and contemporary aspects could offer an interesting
and profitable approach to the further development of the wood industry.
Keywords: Timber architectural typologies; timber preservation technology; Mikania; Gliricidia
sepium; Titonia diversifolia; Plant extracts; wood preservatives.
1
The term vernacular comes from linguistics, where it refers to language usage specific to a time, region, or group.
Citation:
Mendis, M.S. (2022). Decoding the potentials of vernacular timber preservation technology for structural applications [Doctoral dissertation, University of Moratuwa]. Institutional Repository University of Moratuwa. http://dl.lib.uom.lk/handle/123/21186