Projects / Programmes
Rhelogical properties of Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) treated wood
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.01.02 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Wood technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T152 |
Technological sciences |
Composite materials |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.05 |
Engineering and Technology |
Materials engineering |
composites, creep, DMA, densification, modeling, wood
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
31274 |
PhD Andreja Kutnar |
Forestry, wood and paper technology |
Head |
2013 - 2015 |
398 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The climate change and its disastrous consequences are stimulating the transformation towards a sustainable development, with its increasing economic efficiency, protection and restoration of ecological systems and improvement of human well-being. Wood as renewable biological raw material, used in numerous applications, is therefore gaining in its importance. One of the emerging eco-friendly methods in wood modification is the application of combined heat, moisture and mechanical action – the so-called Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) treatments. THM processing can improve the intrinsic properties of wood, produce new material and give desired form and functionality without changing the wood eco-friendly characteristics. The poor mechanical properties of low-density wood can be modified and improved.
Densification of wood allows utilization of the small diameter, low-density wood species to be used for the production of high quality wood-based composites. Increasing the density of wood enhances most of its mechanical properties. The improved mechanical properties, and the ability to control them, provide a variety of potential uses for densified wood. The studies in the past examined the mechanical properties and bonding properties of densified wood, while none of them focused on the time-dependent behavior of densified wood. In the structural applications, the products are exposed to long term loads, which can cause time-dependent deformations. Therefore it is essential for potential utilization of densified wood to examine its time-dependent behavior, like creep deformations.
The general aim of the proposed project is to establish a better understanding of the performance of this “new” material, densified wood, while the primary goal of the proposed project is to investigate the time-dependent behavior of densified wood under bending, exposed to varying regimes of temperature and moisture (humidity), with the following sub goals:
- 1. To examine the relationship between the creep deformation and density of densified wood;
- 2. To develop a model to predict the time-dependent behavior of densified wood;
- 3. To determine time-dependent behavior of multilayer composites made of densified wood;
- 4. To examine the viscoelastic behavior of densified wood with dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA).
The proposed project will be performed in collaboration with Oregon State Unviersity (USA), Aalto University (Finland), and EMPA (Switzerland). The studied wood species will be the most important Slovenian softwood and hardwood species, spruce and beech, respectively. Furthermore, composites of undensified core and densified wood as face layers will be produced. The creep properties of densified wood and its composites will be studied with the 4-point bending test in varying regimes of temperature and moisture exposure. The obtained tests’ results will be used to build a model to predict the creep response of untreated and densified wood. Furthermore, the material point method (MPM) will be applied to study the time-depended response of densified wood. Furthermore, the viscoelastic behavior of densified wood will be studied with dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), which will also be used to locate the glass transition temperature of densified wood.
The proposed project is at the core of the current trend in the research of THM treated wood. Expected results of the proposed project would contribute to a common effort of the wood science community to understand the THM wood performance. The results provided in this research will be essential for the potential utilization of the densified wood, while the proposed research will make available currently missing parameters of the environment-friendly and highly durable THM treated wood.
Significance for science
Postdoctoral project focused on topics that are at the heart of current research trends in the field of thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) treated wood. Results of the project contributed to the joint efforts of the wood science community to understand the properties and behavior of densified wood. By determining the cell wall properties of densified wood, by using DMA to determine the time response of densified wood and by defining machining properties of densified wood the project lead to new knowledge and defined future research that will further clarify the characteristics of THM treated wood. The results of the project also significantly contributed to increase potential of densified wood us as they contributed currently missing data about environmentally friendly and highly resistant THM treated wood. The importance of our research goals is evident from the bibliography for the last period, from the citations of obtained results and numerous links with foreign scientists. The results of the project are published in prestigious international journals and were presented at international conferences. Consequently, this gives further recognition to Slovenian knowledge in the field of THM process wood.
Significance for the country
The results of the project contributed new knowledge in the field of wood, which was upgraded in cooperation with international experts and disseminated through scientific papers and contributions at the international conferences. For Slovenia that recognizes wood as a strategic raw material, the project is of significant importance, since it contributed to the objectives defined in: A. Action Plan "Wood is good" - realization of measures and achieve the objectives of the Action Plan "Wood is good." B. Smart Specialization Strategy - addressing key societal challenges, which are identified in the smart specialization strategies (SPS), and in particular to the challenges identified in the following priority axes: smart buildings and home with wood chain, network for circular economy and the development of materials and final products. C. achieving the strategic goals of Slovenia "Increasing the competitiveness of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food" and "Sustainable production potential and provision of agriculture, forestry and fisheries-related public goods". Achievements for Slovenia represent a contribution to achieving the key objectives of the European Union: - European development strategy "Europe 2020", namely to 4 (of 7) initiatives: Innovative Europe, efficient use of resources, a new industrial policy, new skills for new jobs; - Roadmap for moving to a competitive economy with low carbon emissions in 2050 (Roadmap 2050); - The guidelines for cross-border territorial cooperation (Council Decision of 6 October 2006 on Community Strategic Guidelines on cohesion) and in accordance with the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy: improving the attractiveness of Member States, regions and cities by preserving the environment; joint management of the environment and common threats; - Strategy communication and education on climate change and sustainable development by 2050. The work on the project was conducted in agreement with the Strategic Research Agenda’s (SRA) of European "ForestBased Technology Platform" (FTP) and the Slovene "ForestBased Technology Platform" (SFTP). The results of performed research are therefore well embedded within development strategies of the national and European research area (ERA), and the conducted work contributed to its strengthening. The development of analytical methods, development of new wood processing technologies represent the most favourable means of keeping in touch with the world’s scientific community – in wood science.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
