Treesearch

A timber lateral force resisting system (LFRS) with timber buckling-restrained braces (TBRB) is proposed to improve the seismic performance of timber buildings. Using a similar design approach for conventional buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBF) and established design methods for timber connections, a timber buckling-restrained braced frame (TBRBF) was designed and tested under a series of quasi-static cyclic loading protocols. During the tests, the level of axial load applied to the column was varied to simulate gravity loads. Additionally, some of the tests included an out-of-plane...

Surface-functionalized cellulose materials are developed for various purposes, including food additives and food contact materials. A new biologically relevant testing strategy has been developed based on guidance from the European Food Safety Authority to demonstrate the safety of several next-generation surface-functionalized cellulose materials. This strategy involves a complex three-stage simulated digestion to compare the health effects of thirteen novel different types of cellulose. The physical and chemical properties of surface-functionalized fibrillated celluloses differed...

Prior work on computer-vision wood identification (CVWID) for North American hardwoods yielded two independent deep learning models a 22-class model for diffuse-porous woods and a 17-class model for ring-porous woods but did not address semi-ring-porous woods nor provide a CVWID solution for an unknown specimen without a human first determining which model to deploy. As untrained human operators would lack the anatomical proficiency to differentiate among porosity domains, it is necessary to develop a consolidated model that can identify diffuse-, ring-, and semi-ring-porous woods....

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are desirable material due to universal accessibility, and superior mechanical properties. A major challenge is non-uniform dispersion of CNC in the hydrophobic matrices due to their tendency to agglomerate. A novel technique was evaluated to prepare a hybrid system of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)/graphene quantum dots (GQD). Hybrid system of CNC/GQD was added to high density poly (ethylene) (HDPE) to manufacture composites. The CNC/GQD inclusion complex properties were evaluated using Zeta potential measurement, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectrosco...

Amphiphilic sulfated cellulose nanofibrils were synthesized with yields in excess of 99% by sulfation of dissolving pulp cellulose using chlorosulfonic acid in anhydrous N,N-dimethyl formamide followed by high-speed blending. The sulfation level was stoichiometrically tunable to between 1.48 and 2.23 mmol g−1. The optimized SCNF demonstrated the ability to act as an effective dispersant for graphene produced via exfoliation in aqueous media, allowing for the production of aqueous stabilized graphene with 3.9 ± 0.3 wt% graphite to graphene conversion and suspended solids comprised of 19.5 ±...

The current trends in climate change have captured the attention of stakeholders across multiple industries, including the building sector. With the introduction of innovative building materials such as mass timber products (MTPs), it has become essential to evaluate their environmental performance. In response, a variety of life cycle assessment (LCA) software programs are available to meet this need. However, it is crucial to understand how different LCA software and databases might influence the results. This study was aimed at exploring the impact of two widely used LCA software...

Wood densification, aimed at enhancing mechanical properties through compression, faces challenges due to set-recovery, where densified wood regains its original shape upon re-moistening. However, understanding the role of lignin in set-recovery remains elusive. In this study, acidified sodium chlorite was applied to achieve approximately 50 % delignification without removing other wood components from 3.2 mm veneers of birch, aspen, and grey alder. The veneers were then densified at 100◦C and 6 MPa, with wood moisture contents (MC) of 10 % and 16 %. The morphology, physical properties,...

Wood–plastic composites are composite materials consisting of wood particles, thermoplastic polymer, and small amounts of other performance additives to increase performance in exterior construction applications such as decking and siding. Three best-performing fire retardants, determined from a previous study, which were brominated, magnesium hydroxide, and ammonium polyphosphate, were selected for this weathering study and more detailed analysis with color analysis, thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, and the cone calorimeter. With the rapid surface heating...

End coatings are typically used to help prevent end checks on sawn lumber during the drying process. These drying defects can cause a loss of valuable lumber. This study was conducted to look at the effectiveness of three different types of end coatings. After 1 year of air-drying, boards with each of the three end coatings were compared with each other, and they were also compared with untreated control boards. Although all three end coatings were found to be effective in decreasing the amount and severity of drying defects compared with the untreated controls, there were no significant...

Two of the most important characteristics of wood, its combustibility and strength, have made it so that wood has served humankind both as fuel and as a building material for thousands of years. As a building material, wood is often used for structures, transportation networks, and infrastructure systems. Wood materials come in many forms, including dimensional lumber, heavy timber, and engineered wood products (e.g., plywood, orientated strand board, glulam, and cross-laminated timber). A more recent category of engineered wood products, known as mass timber, has increased the market and...