Dimensional Stability of Olive (Olea europaea L.) and Teak (Tectona grandis L.)

Olive, as a wood species, can be compared by its dimensional stability with teak wood, which is mainly used for products exposed to external conditions. Mean density in absolutely dry condition of researched olive wood is 0.810 g/cm3 while the average value of teak wood is 0.610 g/cm3. Regardless of higher density, the mean value of total tangential shrinkage for olive wood is only by 3.6 % higher than the one for teak wood, so the value for olive wood is 5.6 % and for teak wood 5.4 %. Based on this research of density in absolutely dry condition and total shrinkage, olive wood can be considered as a possible alternative indigenous species for use in products that are daily exposed to external conditions.