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WoodWoodA versatile engineering material

By Hugh Mullan

BSFTL, SMCIOB

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Todays LectureTodays Lecture

Definition of ‘versatile’Is wood versatile?Why so?Definition of an ‘engineering material’Wood as an engineering materialTo sum up

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VersatileVersatile

Turning easily from one thing to anotherOf many sided abilityCapable of many uses

The Chambers Dictionary, © 2003, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.

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Is wood versatile?Is wood versatile?

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Turning easily from one thing to Turning easily from one thing to anotheranotherTimber does not require

energy intensive processing The product energy

requirement, in kilowatt hours, is 8 times higher for a PVC-U window compared to a timber window

The manufacture of steel components uses 4,000 times more energy than its timber equivalent

Concrete creates 5 times as much solid waste

Timber is inherently recyclable

www.forestsforever .org.uk

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Large and small structuresLarge and small structuresCapable of many usesCapable of many uses

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Where is wood usedWhere is wood usedMany sided abilityMany sided ability

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Why is wood versatile?Why is wood versatile?

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An engineering materialAn engineering material

Engineering: ‘… in its modern and extended sense, the art and science by which the mechanical properties of matter are made useful to man in structures and machines…’

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

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Mechanical Properties of woodMechanical Properties of wood

A light construction material with a high strength to weight ratio

Relatively easy to work with simple tools.“Anisotropic / Orthotropic”“Unidirectional”Natural and therefore may be susceptible

to biodeterioration

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Specific mecanial propertiesSpecific mecanial properties

Is wood a material?How strong is it?How heavy is it?How elastic or rigid is it?How stable?How durable?

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A set or range of materialsA set or range of materials

Mechanical properties variable by SpeciesTypeGrowth regime and geographyLocation within a single treeProcessing at all stagesManufactured wood products

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A range of materialsA range of materials

Different species suitable for different applications

Manufacured wood products extend the range of applications

Treatment can do this alsoSuitability not exclusive

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Manufactured wood productsManufactured wood products

Between half and two thirds of all solid timber goes to waste during the sawing and dimensioning process.

Manufactured wood products make use of timber waste and so represent an efficient use of resources.

Eco, © 2005 Quadrille Publishing Ltd.

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To sum upTo sum up

Wood is extremely versatile and continues to be one of the most widely used materials, often in combination with metals, plastics, glass or other materials (furniture, construction). The processing of wood (sawn timber, veneer, boards), its manufacture into finished products (structural components, wooden units, furniture, wooden products) and use, above all in the chemical industry (cellulose, paper, fibreboard), have resulted in the development of wood specialist training in the fields of industrial engineering and materials engineering.

Source: www.studienwahl.de

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Further InformationFurther Information

Forests Forever: www.forests forever.co.uk Forest Stewardship Council: www.fsc-

uk.demon.co.uk Building Research Establishment:

www.bre.co.uk/timber Wood Web: www.woodweb.com Softwood Export Council: www.softwood.org