Temperature distribution in beech wood during vacuum drying

Temperature distribution in beech wood during vacuum drying. The temperature distribution and changes in humidity in beech wood in the form of friezes during drying in a vacuum were analysed. The intensity of the occurring phenomena of desorption and the volumetric flow of moisture through the anatomical structures of the wood, depending on the absolute pressure and the temperature of the process, was determined. It was found that the fastest temperature increase took place in the subsurface layers directly adjacent to the heating plates. The introduction of conditioning between the drying phases made it possible to even out the humidity and temperature distribution in the entire element. On the basis of the analysis of changes taking place between the volumes of the three components of wood, it was found that the volume of moisture in the form of vapor removed in the initial phase of drying is over 20 times greater than the volume of voids in wood structures, and in the following phases it decreases to 0.27. The average volume of vapour removed from 1 m3 of wood at the temperature of 55℃ is 13.9 m3/h, decreasing in the following phases to 9.1 m3/h at the drying temperature of 60℃ and then 3.1 m3/h at the temperature of 65℃. The drying rates for these phases reach the value of 0.15%/h, 0.17%/h and 0.075%/h, respectively. Direct measurements of wood moisture, made during the experimental course of the drying process at an absolute pressure of 150 hPa, follow the equivalent moisture, determined on the basis of the Hailwood-Horrobin model, taking into account the appropriate calculation factors.

Teaching Implementation of Practical Education and Innovative Construction Method

This study uses cases of practical education to illustrate the process and results of innovative construction methods. The results are as follows: 1. Originating from the nature of materials, development of construction methods through understanding the characteristics of materials can better demonstrate the importance of detailed design. 2. Through the addition of other materials, wood structures can stand out from the conventional form to show an amazing style. 3. Through practices, students can understand the importance of detailed design. Starting from the essence of the material and returning to the overall design through detailed design can indeed create unexpected results. 4. Feedback on teaching to provide reference for subsequent courses.

Research into the physical and chemical properties of fire-retardant materials of structural elements of trucks running on gas engine fuel with the aim of increasing their fire-retardant efficiency

The fire load is an integral part of the fire hazard definition. Reducing this load is one of directions to fight fires in transport. To study the physicochemical processes and thermal effects occurring as a result of thermal decomposition of wood fire-proofed by retardants like BAN, OK-GF, OK-DS (OK-GFM), SPAD-0 and their chemical compositions, we used the methods of differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry, and derivative thermogravimetry. In addition, to study the intensity of physicochemical combustion processes, tests to control changes in woodwork masses and temperature at the top of pipe depending on the duration of combustion of the samples and the consumption of fire retardants were conducted. Fire retardant compositions like OK-GF, OK-DS, Pirilax biopyrene at the consumption of 0.1 kg / m2 ensure flame and combustion resistance of the wood. The analysis of the research results confirmed the possibility of assigning to wood structures of a lorry’s body of the group 1 of flame and combustion resistance. Using the above fire retardants and their compositions in the treatment of lodgment elements and runners significantly affects the possibility and duration of the combustion process of a lorry. This was tested by means of an artificial fire source method (without chemical treatment, the burning time does not exceed 50 minutes). This significantly improves post-collision safety of vehicles with an increased fire load in terms of fire resistance because of using the natural gas as a motor fuel.

USE OF X-RAYS AND QGIS® SOFTWARE TO EVALUATE DETERIORATED WOOD IN MARINE ENVIRONMENTS

The objective of this work was to propose a nondestructive method to identify and quantify the damage caused by marine borers in wood structures. First, a test specimen was submerged in an estuarine environment for 120 days. Radiography was then applied to detect and evaluate the attack by marine borers. Two methods of evaluation were performed with the images to compare them. The first assessment was carried out using the QGIS® geoprocessing program for the treatment of images as a tool, which made it possible to identify and quantify the damage (in cm²). The second evaluation followed the method indicated in EN 275 (1992), which suggests a visual assessment, based on X-ray images, classified according to a template provided in the standard. Although the method using the image treatment by QGIS® is an estimate, it has the advantage of providing a numerical result, in contrast to the visual analysis, which is not as accurate due to its subjectivity. Besides this, the treatment of the images allowed good visualization of the damage to the specimen. The findings indicated that QGIS® can be used as a complement to the method proposed by EN 275 (1992).

Engineered Large Wood Structures in Stream Restoration Projects in Switzerland: Practice-Based Experiences

The effects of large wood (LW) presence in streams on river ecology and morphology are becoming widely researched and nowadays their ecological benefits are undisputed. Yet LW presence in most Swiss plateau streams is poor mainly due to anthropological pressure on river ecosystems. The use of anchored, engineered LW structures under various forms in stream restoration projects is now state of the art. However, binding benchmarks for the equivalent naturally occurring instream LW quantities and complex LW structures do not yet exist. Therefore, hydraulic engineers often find themselves in a conflict between acceptable instream LW quantities for flood protection, quantities desirable from an ecological point of view and, last but not least, quantities accepted by the public based on the current ideologies of landscape design. In the first section, this paper treats the complexity of defining benchmarks for LW quantities in restoration projects. In the second section, we provide a qualitative practical insight into relevant questions when planning engineered LW structures, such as placement, anchoring, naturalness, and effectiveness from a hydraulic engineer’s point of view. The third part presents three examples of restoration projects with different dimensions where various engineered LW structures with different outcomes were built and introduced into active streams. Finally, the conclusion provides further possible measures to retain LW in streams and to restore more natural LW dynamics in rivers.

Alkylimidazolium Ionic Liquids Absorption and Diffusion in Wood

Ionic liquids represent a class of highly tunable organic compounds responsible for many applications in the domain of wood-based materials. It has often been emphasized that the use of ionic liquids derives from their high affinity for lignocellulose and their good penetration ability into wood structures. This paper discusses the sorption ability of different types of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids with lateral alkyl chains, ranging from ethyl to hexyl into spruce and beech wood, as a function of their cation molecular mass, anion type (chloride, tetrafluoroborate, acetate), and intrinsic properties (surface tension and kinematic viscosity) at room temperature. All the studied ionic liquids present high relative uptake values at the equilibrium, ranging from 11.2% to 69.7%. The bulk diffusion coefficients of the ionic liquids into the wood range from 2 × 10−3 to 28 × 10−3 mm2/min, being higher in the longitudinal direction for both types of wood. The value of the diffusion coefficients for 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride is only 25% lower than that for water, despite the obvious differences in viscosity and surface tension, demonstrating a good penetration ability and the potential for wood industry-related applications (as impregnation compound carriers and preservatives).