November 2007

Tsunami Wave Testing: Rakesh Gupta, Jebediah Wilson and Milo Clauson began testing their 1/6th scale, two story wood frame house in the Hillsdale Tsunami Wave Basin earlier this month. The goal of the project is to determine the forces that would be experienced by a typical wood-frame house when hit by a wave. They completed three days of testing in November with the house more or less intact and a little soggy. The next testing phase will begin on December 3rd.

International Travels: Chris Knowles, Jeff Morrell and Eric Hansen recently attended the Division 5 meeting of the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations in Taipei, Taiwan last month. Chris presented results of his PhD research and Eric moderated a session and presented two posters. Jeff also participated in the International Research Group on Wood Protection Meeting that was conjoined with IUFRO. Bill Galligan was a US Delegate to the annual ISO TC165 meeting held in Oxford, England. This committee is responsible for harmonization of standards for preparation and characterization of the properties of timber. In the US usage this includes lumber, glu-lam, LVL, I joists, structural panels and the metal fasteners and adhesives that relate to these products.  

Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China: Kaichang Li was the guest of the College of Materials Engineering at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University for 10 days over Thanksgiving. Fujian province is home to a large forest products industry in China and is located on the south coast adjacent to Taiwan. Kaichang gave presentations about WSE and an overview of his research. He established contacts interested in collaborative work on bamboo-plastic materials for automobile applications and on reducing hazardous air pollutants from composites plants. He also spent a week visiting plywood, particleboard and MDF plants ranging from primitive to state-of-the-art.

Mexican Short Course: Scott Leavengood spent a couple weeks in Mexico as part of the Mexico TIES - “Enhancing the Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Mexico’s Forest Sector” project. Scott taught a 2-day course on Quality Control in Wood Products Manufacturing for a total of approximately 70 participants in Uruapan, Michoacán and Oaxaca, Oaxaca. Ask him if he drank the water.

Recent Talks and Conferences: Rakesh Gupta and Jeff Morrell attended the “Durability of Wood Frame Housing…Lessons Learned from Natural Disasters” conference in Biloxi, MS. John Simonsen presented a lecture on “Nanoparticles from Trees and Other Cool Stuff” at the Academy of Lifelong Learning.

Recent Talks and Conferences: Rakesh Gupta and Jeff Morrell attended the “Durability of Wood Frame Housing…Lessons Learned from Natural Disasters” conference in Biloxi, MS. John Simonsen presented a lecture on “Nanoparticles from Trees and Other Cool Stuff” at the Academy of Lifelong Learning.

International Visitors: Chris Knowles and Eric Hansen recently hosted three scientists from Manado State University in Indonesia. They were on campus for about two months and were here to gain insights regarding business management and marketing practices in the U.S. forest sector. Their stay was funded by the Asian Development Bank. (Eric).

International Visitors: the Oregon Wood Innovation Center (OWIC) has been busy working on projects with existing firms and entrepreneurs, developing new educational courses, and maintaining communication with Oregon wood products firms. Some of the work-in-progress includes:

• Determining the mechanical and physical properties for hybrid poplar from Oregon plantations;
  
• Testing Oregon hardwoods for a start-up firm producing cutting boards;
  developing testing protocols for a company producing a wood bicycle,
  
• Advising a company that has developed a novel wood hardening technology and an equipment manufacturer interested in the suitability of their machinery for producing raw materials for biofuels.
  
• Advising a firm planning to build a mill to use Oregon hardwoods and produce biofuels from mill residues.

Other projects include a market analysis for a building products company and assisting with evaluating the hardwood plywood industry's acceptance of veneer from trees grown in plantations.

OWIC is planning a 2-day workshop on quality control in wood products manufacturing and continue to refine plans for a tour of the eastern hardwood industry. Last but not least, the communications efforts continue via a monthly newsletter and the 'Ask the Expert' function on the website.

DEPARTMENT OF WOOD SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

What is this? A monthly capsule summary of selected project updates, new ventures, new grants/ contracts/ testing programs, major papers, accomplishments, awards and kudos, other stuff you are proud of, or activities that your colleagues (and DH) might find interesting. The goal is better awareness of the professional activities of faculty, staff and students in Wood Science & Engineering.