Abstract

Sandwich panel consisting of oil palm wood core and rubberwood veneer faces were produced. Effects of three different oil palm core density ranges (200–250, 300–350 and 400–450 kg/m³) and two different oil palm core grain orientations (oriented in vertical and horizontal direction of the flat plane) on flatwise properties of the panels under uniform compressive (load displacement curve, maximum stress and Young’s modulus) and localized point loads (load displacement curve and load at limit) were explored. The result revealed that the feature of load displacement curve under compression and indentation test was strongly influenced by oil palm core grain orientation. The maximum stress, Young’s modulus and load at limit values were very dependent on grain orientation and density of oil palm wood core. The panels with core grain oriented in vertical direction of the flat plane and higher core density showed greater maximum stress, Young’s modulus and load at limit than those of core grain oriented in horizontal direction of the flat plane and lower core density. From this result, it was suggested that the panel with oil palm core grain oriented in vertical direction of the flat plane would have a greater performance to be used to carry uniform compressive and localized point loads.