Print this page Wood as an Engineering Material - Part II
Course Outline
Wood has been used in the construction of buildings, furniture, tools and vehicles for thousands of years. Today, wood is as important an engineering material
as ever, and in many cases, technological advances have
made it even more valuable. This course is based entirely on the Centennial Edition of Wood Handbook published in 2010 by the USDA Forest Service, which is regarded as the most comprehensive treatise on wood as an engineering material. Part II of this course provides detailed information on the adhesive bonding of wood, composite wood panels, glued structural members, wood finishing, and wood deterioration and preservation. Applications of wood in buildings and bridges are presented for both conventional lumber and round timbers. In addition, code requirements regarding the fire safety of wood construction are discussed. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.
Learning
Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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Course Content
This is Part II of a two-part series on wood as an engineering material. Part I of this course covers the basic properties of wood and its fundamental design theory. Part II of this course discusses the design and application of conventional and engineered wood products in construction. In this course, you are required to study the following material:
Chapters 10 through 20 (PDF, 15.6 MB) of the Wood Handbook
This handbook is
published by Forest Products Laboratory of U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is one of the most excellent reference books on wood and its applications in engineering. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
The following is the table of content of the Handbook for your reference:
Wood Handbook
Wood as an engineering material. General Technical Report 190.
Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory.
Chapter 1 - Wood as a Sustainable Building Material
- Wood as a Green Building Material 1–1
- Forest Certification Programs 1–3
- Literature Cited 1–5
Chapter 2 - Characteristics and Availability of Commercially Important Woods
- Timber Resources and Uses 2–2
- Species Descriptions 2–3
- Imported Woods 2–18
- Scientific Name Index 2–41
- Literature Cited 2–45
- Additional References 2–45
Chapter 3 - Structure and Function of Wood
- Biological Structure of Wood at Decreasing Scales 3–2
- Microscopic Structure of Softwoods and Hardwoods 3–9
- Wood Technology 3–12
- Juvenile Wood and Reaction Wood 3–13
- Appearance of Wood as Sawn Lumber 3–13
- Wood Identification 3–16
- Literature Cited 3–16
Chapter 4 -Moisture Relations and Physical Properties of Wood
- Wood–Moisture Relationships 4–1
- Thermal Properties 4–10
- Electrical Properties 4–15
- Friction Properties 4–17
- Nuclear Radiation Properties 4–17
- Literature Cited 4–18
- Additional Reference 4–19
Chapter 5 - Mechanical Properties of Wood
- Orthotropic Nature of Wood 5–1
- Elastic Properties 5–2
- Strength Properties 5–3
- Vibration Properties 5–17
- Mechanical Properties of Clear Straight-Grained Wood 5–21
- Natural Characteristics Affecting Mechanical Properties 5–26
- Literature Cited 5–44
- Additional References 5–44
Chapter 6 - Commercial Lumber, Round Timbers, and Ties
- Hardwood Lumber 6–2
- Softwood Lumber 6–6
- Purchase of Lumber 6–12
- Round Timbers and Ties 6–18
- Commonly Used Lumber, Round Timber, and Tie
- Abbreviations 6–23
- References 6–25
Chapter 7 - Stress Grades and Design Properties for Lumber, Round Timber, and Ties
- Lumber 7–1
- Round Timbers and Ties 7–13
- Literature Cited 7–14
- Additional References 7–15
Chapter 8 - Fastenings
- Nails 8–1
- Spikes 8–9
- Staples 8–9
- Drift Bolts 8–10
- Wood Screws 8–10
- Lag Screws 8–12
- Bolts 8–14
- Connector Joints 8–19
- Metal Plate Connectors 8–25
- Joist Hangers 8–25
- Fastener Head Embedment 8–26
- Literature Cited 8–27
- Additional References 8–27
Chapter 9 - Structural Analysis Equations
- Deformation Equations 9–1
- Stress Equations 9–4
- Stability Equations 9–7
- Literature Cited 9–10
- Additional References 9–10
Chapter 10 - Adhesives with Wood Materials Bond Formation and Performance
- Surface Properties of Wood for Bonding 10–2
- Physical Properties of Wood for Bonding 10–5
- Adhesives 10–8
- Bonding Process 10–14
- Bonded Joints 10–18
- Testing and Performance 10–19
- Standards 10–22
- References 10–23
Chapter 11 - Wood-Based Composite Materials Panel Products, Glued-Laminated Timber, Structural Composite Lumber, and Wood–Nonwood Composite Materials
- Scope 11–2
- Conventional Wood-Based Composite Panels 11–2
- Glulam Timber 11–17
- Structural Composite Lumber 11–20
- Wood–Nonwood Composite Materials 11–22
- Literature Cited 11–26
Chapter 12 - Mechanical Properties of Wood-Based Composite Materials
- Elastic Properties 12–2
- Strength Properties 12–3
- Panel Products 12–3
- Timber Elements/Structural Composite Lumber 12–5
- Wood–Nonwood Composites 12–7
- Testing Standards 12–9
- Literature Cited 12–10
Chapter 13 - Drying and Control of Moisture Content and Dimensional Changes
- Determination of Moisture Content 13–1
- Recommended Moisture Content 13–3
- Drying of Wood 13–5
- Moisture Control During Transit and Storage 13–13
- Dimensional Changes in Wood 13–15
- Design Factors Affecting Dimensional Change 13–17
- Wood Care and Installation During Construction 13–18
- Literature Cited 13–19
Chapter 14 - Biodeterioration of Wood
- Fungus Damage and Control 14–1
- Bacteria 14–9
- Insect Damage and Control 14–9
- Marine Borer Damage and Control 14–13
- References 14–15
Chapter 15 - Wood Preservation
- Wood Preservatives 15–1
- Selecting Preservatives 15–13
- Evaluating New Preservatives 15–13
- Preservative Effectiveness 15–13
- Effect of Species on Penetration 15–15
- Preparation of Timber for Treatment 15–15
- Application of Preservatives 15–18
- Quality Assurance for Treated Wood 15–25
- Effects on the Environment 15–26
- Recycling and Disposal of Treated Wood 15–26
- References 15–27
Chapter 16 - Finishing of Wood
- Factors Affecting Finish Performance 16–2
- Exterior Wood Finishes 16–16
- Application of Finishes, Special Uses 16–24
- Finish Failure or Discoloration 16–25
- Finishing Interior Wood 16–32
- Wood Cleaners and Brighteners 16–34
- Paint Strippers 16–35
- Lead-Based Paint 16–36
- Literature Cited 16–37
- Additional References 16–37
Chapter 17 - Use of Wood In Building and Bridges
- Light-Frame Buildings 17–1
- Post-Frame and Pole Buildings 17–4
- Log Buildings 17–6
- Heavy Timber Buildings 17–6
- Considerations for Wood Buildings 17–9
- Literature Cited 17–12
Chapter 18 - Fire Safety of Wood Construction
- Fire Safety Design and Evaluation 18–1
- Fire-Performance Characteristics of Wood 18–8
- Fire-Retardant-Treated Wood 18–15
- Literature Cited 18–18
- Additional References 18–18
Chapter 19 - Specialty Treatments
- Plasticizing Wood 19–1
- Modified Woods 19–4
- Paper-Based Plastic Laminates 19–12
- References 19–14
Chapter 20 - Heat Sterilization of Wood
- Heat Treatment Standards 20–1
- Factors Affecting Heating Times 20–2
- Methods for Estimating Heating Times 20–5
- American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC)
- Enforcement Regulations 20–9
- Quality Mark 20–11
- Other Considerations 20–11
- Literature Cited 20–13
Glossary
Index
Course Summary
Wood has been used as an engineering material ever since the early days of human activities. This course is all about wood; from basic wood properties to wood structural design to wood finishing. Topics range from wood species to wood preservation. Practical aspects of use and production of wood products are also covered along with the application of wood in building and bridge constructions. By understanding the basics of wood and its behavior, engineers and architects can utilize wood as an engineering material in a more efficient and creative manner.
Related Links
For
additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following
websites or web pages:
USDA Forest Service
APA - The Engineered Wood Association
AWC- American Wood Council
Once you finish studying the above course content you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.org or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
