Your search resulted in 378 documents. Displaying 25 entries per page.
Biological durability and wood-water interactions of sorbitol and citric acid modified wood – Effects on the expected service life
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40960
A high level of research activities on sorbitol and citric acid (SorCA) modified wood has been recognized in Europe over the last few years. As this treatment is close to entering an industrial-scale production, it is of interest to investigate how such treated wood performs upon long-term outdoor exposure. Hence, in this study Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood was modified with aqueous sol...
K Kurkowiak, L Emmerich, H Militz
Impacts of elevated moisture levels and subsequent drying on screwed
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40970
Mass timber (glue-laminated timber, cross laminated timber (CLT) and laminated veneer lumber) are increasingly used in mid-to high rise structures in Australia where the climate is mainly sub-tropical with elevated moisture levels and high termite risk. Moisture intrusion poses a major challenge anywhere but becomes more critical under these conditions. Untreated/non-durable materials are consider...
C M T Roder, C D Gerber, J J Morrell
Failure characteristics of thermally modified poplar wood subjected to mechanical tests
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40983
Poplar (Populus spp.) are among the fastest growing timber species and have been widely planted for use in plywood, composites, pallets, furniture components and paper production. However, the low density of the wood limits many structural applications and the wood has little resistance to biodegradation. Thermal modification represents one approach to improving durability by changing the moistur...
E Bari, M Ghorbanian Far, N Moradi, J J Morrell, G Daniel, B Mohebby, R Hosseinpourpia, M Humar
Intra-species variability of moisture dynamics in wood
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11040
Moisture dynamics of wood and wood-based materials play a major role in wood durability against different decay organisms. Their impact becomes particularly evident when wood is exposed, but not permanently wet. To date, however, this has only been taken into account indirectly and therefore inadequately when testing the durability of wood. While test methods are available, for example to determin...
C Brischke, H Purps, L Emmerich
Wood above ground project – Results and future plans
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11041
In 2000, the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) initiated an extensive study to investigate the natural durability of wood. The study involved exposing wood in various orientations to assess its performance. A total of 35 wood material types were exposed at DTI test site in Taastrup, Denmark. Moisture content (MC) was measured through weighing for the initial five years, decay was assessed follo...
A W Christof, R Digaitis, P Fynholm, J Stenbaek, N Morsing, B Lindegaard
Investigating moisture dynamics and fungal decay risk: integrating X-ray CT visualization and simulation benchmarks through a Fungal Control Unit
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11045
Wood is susceptible to fungal attack and over time the structural integrity can be compromised. This risk is of course strongly related to moisture dynamics, as moisture is needed for fungal growth. While existing methodologies, such as lab and field tests, provide valuable insights into wood decay, they often fall short in replicating real-life conditions, particularly within the intricacies of t...
J Van den Bulcke, J Van Acker, M Delbeke, A Blommaert, N Van Den Bossche, M Steeman, L De Ligne
International joint field trial on the moisture performance of wood – Set up and first results
2024 - IRG/WP 24-40996
Wood durability to decay stems from its inherent resistance to fungi resistance to fungi. In this regard, wood's ability to withstand moisture uptake plays an important role as the lower threshold for wood decay is a moisture content of 25%. However, the aspect of moisture resistance is not yet sufficiently emphasized as a durability factor, both in the assessment of durability as a material prope...
C Brischke, et al. (33 co-authors)
How personality traits influence the perception of fungal decay in a wooden cladding – A survey in three Modelling wood moisture content in outdoor conditions from measured data
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41002
This study examined perceptions of fungal decay damage on wooden cladding across Norway, Sweden, and Germany. The majority of respondents across all countries did not find the fungal decay damage in question acceptable, with the least acceptance in Norway. This could be due to Norway having the highest frequency of wooden residential buildings and the most experience with maintaining wooden claddi...
G W Gustavsen, G Alfredsen, P B van Niekerk, J Niklewski, C Brischke
Modelling the service life of wood in ground contact – Verification of remotely sensed soil data from the reanalysis dataset ERA5-Land using in-situ measurements at a test site of utility poles in Eastern Norway
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41003
This study compared soil moisture and temperature estimates from the 5th European reanalysis (ERA5-Land) dataset with in-situ measurements to assess the accuracy and applicability of ERA5-Land data for modelling the service life of wood in ground contact. The ERA5-Land soil temperature estimates showed a moderate correlation with the in-situ temperature measurements (Spearman’s ρ of 0.73) and a...
U Hundhausen, P B van Niekerk, B Marais
Modelling wood moisture content in outdoor conditions from measured data
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41005
Sustainable use of wood requires an understanding of expected service life, particularly when the material is exposed to outdoor conditions and, thus, fungal decay. Since moisture is the primary vector for fungal decay, accurate moisture prediction is a key component in service life assessment. For this purpose, the present study leverages existing measured data for linear regression of in-field m...
J Niklewski, P B van Niekerk, L Meyer-Veltrup, J Sandak, C Brischke
Changes in decay risk of wood in ground contact over Europe, from analysis of historic climate conditions
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41008
Changing climate conditions will affect global temperature and precipitation patterns, shifting some geographical areas into states that are more suitable for fungal wood decay. Climate normals, which are taken over a 30-year period, capture vast spatial and temporal variations in these conditions and comparing these can show changes over time. Importantly, being able to identify locations that ha...
P B van Niekerk, B N Marais, G Alfredsen, C Brischke
Analysis and performance of spruce alternative species and discarded wood for windows production
2024 - IRG/WP 24-50386
Climate change is having a significant impact on European forestry, particularly on the softwood species used for window frames. This study investigates potential replacement tree species for spruce (Picea abies), the predominant material for window frames. We evaluate Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), thermally modified poplar (Populus nigra) and discarded silver...
B Lesar, J Levanič, M Humar, A Treu
Determining the minimum water vapor permeability of exterior wood coatings by means of hygrothermal and decay models
2024 - IRG/WP 24-20717
The objective of this study was to determine the minimum water vapor permeability of exterior wood coatings for log homes using hygrothermal and decay modeling. The approach is based on a worst-case scenario assumption, namely a moisture trap at a given wood moisture content in a coated wall log. The minimum limit of vapor permeability of the coating system was determined by simulating the time re...
U Hundhausen, S Ullah, D Kraniotis
Fungal degradation of oak timber bridges
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11058
Wood is increasingly recognised as an eco-friendly building material, but its organic nature makes it vulnerable to degradation, especially in outdoor applications exposed to moisture. This study investigates wood-decaying fungi affecting oak timber bridges in Hanover, Germany. The study aimed to identify the fungal species using culture-independent methods and to examine the impact of poorly exec...
L Schrader, J Trautner, C Brischke
DURALARCH – Suitability of selected coloured coniferous heartwoods of different origin for their use in outdoor applications
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11064
For outdoor above-ground applications with high demands on biological durability, there are only a few softwoods available that also have high density and strength characteristics. One of the most important timbers with these material properties is Siberian larch (Larix sibirica, Larix gmelinii), which is available in sufficient quantities due to its large distribution area. Imports of Siberian la...
C Brischke, J Appelt, G Koch, S Majer, M Nopens, R Stirling, D Wong
Real-time evaluation of connected in-ground termite stations in laboratory colonies of Coptotermes gestroi and Prorhinotermes sp.
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11082
Subterranean termites represent a major challenge in infestation management and monitoring. This study evaluates the effectiveness of connected in-ground stations for termite control, incorporating an advanced electronic device developed and patented by Groupe Berkem (Novaterm®). These stations are linked to a gateway unit that collects the detected signals and transmits them remotely via a 4G ne...
M Butin, F Chopinet, S Savriama, D Messaoudi
Mitigating the risk of decay in CLT buildings affected by trapped construction moisture using a diffusible borate preservative
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20735
Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is also known as a mass timber construction material. It is fabricated by gluing together multiple layers of timber lamellae with each layer oriented perpendicular to the one below it. This enhances strength, stability and dimensional rigidity. CLT is seen as an excellent ‘low carbon’ alternative to using steel and concrete and is growing in popularity as a sustain...
J R Williams
Influence of incising methods and wood moisture content on ‘deep penetration treatment’ in Japanese cedar and larch
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20749
To expand applicability of ‘deep penetration treatment’, a solvent-borne and non-pressure treatment that is commonly coupled with roller-type incising using a flat blade, we investigated drill and laser machining as alternative incising methods and examined the influence of wood moisture content on the preservative penetration. Various incising methods were applied to heartwood of Japanese ced...
S Taira, T Miyauchi, S Isaji, H Matsunaga
Curing Behaviour of Bio-based Phenol Formaldehyde Resin and the Durability Performance of Treated Wood
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20758
The aim of the study is to investigate the curing behaviours of bio-based PF resins treated Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica). Compared to conventional wood preservatives such as metal-based ACQ, bio-based PF resin was more environmentally-friendly and can store more plant-based carbon inside treated wood. However, all these preservatives have the risk of being leached out. This study conducte...
Y-S Lee, P-Y Kuo
Moisture uptake in CLT during the construction phase: real construction conditions versus specimens exposed to environment
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41019
The rapid growth in the use of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) in construction highlights the need to address durability concerns, particularly in regions with less experience in Mass Timber Construction and favourable climatic conditions for the biological degradation of wood, such as Mediterranean countries. A lack of awareness and deficient construction management can negatively impact the public ...
D Lima, S Duarte, J M Branco, L Nunes (†)
Experimental characterizing of liquid water uptake and release – key to understand moisture-induced decay risk analysis
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41020
Wood can absorb water vapour (sorption) or liquid water (capillarity). Moisture from liquid water (rain, spray water) is often a problem for the performance of wood products used in outdoor structures. Wood is prone to biodegradation when is it too moist for too long periods. Experimental studies that allow conclusions to be drawn about the practical use of wood water uptake are limited due to the...
M Nopens, J T Benthien, J Trautner, C Brischke
Evaluation of moisture exclusion ability of wood using double-layer outdoor exposure tests
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41021
The material resistance of wood to decay must be due to the combined effects of heartwood extractives and the moisture content state. Evaluating the moisture exclusion ability of wood is important for assessing its durability in outdoor use. We conducted previously double-layer outdoor exposure tests and investigated the relationship between moisture content over time and the progress of decay usi...
T Osawa, R Noda, K Yamamoto
A Case Study of Vogvarjeva hiša, a Local Ethnographic Museum
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41027
The Vogvarjeva hiša in Spodnje Duplje, Slovenia, is an example of traditional 18th Century wooden architecture and an important element of the region’s cultural heritage. The building was constructed from local timber on stone foundations and reflects the traditional rural building techniques of the Gorenjska region. Since it was declared a cultural monument in 1985, it has functioned as an eth...
D Kržišnik, L Kopač, D Jones, M Humar
A multi-dataset validation study of moisture prediction in Norway spruce wood exposed outdoors
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41029
Wood used in outdoor construction undergoes continuous cycles of wetting and drying, resulting in fluctuating moisture contents that directly influence its long-term durability. Excess moisture above a critical threshold leads to deterioration by fungal decay, limiting the service life of the structure. Service life models thus rely on accurate predictive models of moisture behaviour. However, cap...
J Niklewski, C Brischke
Relationship between changes inside moisture content of wood measured using temperature and humidity sensors and swelling and shrinkage
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41030
With the spread of mid and high-rise timber buildings, the long-term use of timber buildings is getting required more than ever. It is considered that measurement of the local inside moisture content of a wooden member is one of the useful methods for periodic health assessment of timber buildings. The aim of this research is to establish an easy estimation method of the local inside moisture cont...
Y Sadakane, T Mori