Research News
Field test assessments in Hilo, HI 2026
Gerald Presley, Jeff Morrell, Barry Goodell, Jody Jellison, Xinfeng Xie
February 2026
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Project: WoodOutDoor (WOD): Wood durability and recommendations for use in tropical overseas territories
Kevin CANDELIER (BioWooEB, Cirad, Montpellier, France)
Julie BOSSU (EcoFoG, CNRS, Kourou, French Guiana);
Christian BRISCHKE (Thünen Institute of Wood Research, Germany)
January 2026
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Unique fire chamber reveals the inner secrets of wood
Researchers at Luleå University of Technology, in collaboration with the state research institute RISE, have developed a unique fire chamber that, for the first time, makes it possible to study how wood changes on the inside during an ongoing fire. The technology opens new opportunities for both fire research and the development of wood-based construction materials.
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Why use Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to inspect Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)?
John Williams (RSK)
November 2025
Checking CLT for trapped construction moisture is difficult and time consuming due to its layered structure, where internal layers are concealed by the outer ones. GPR relies on transmitting an electromagnetic pulse through a transmitting antenna which is reflected back through the target material and the response captured by the receiving antenna. The speed of the reflection, displayed as a distortion in the electromagnetic pulse can be related to changes in moisture in materials.
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