Innovativeness, or the propensity of a firm to create and/or adopt new products, process and business systems, has been measured using several methods in previous research. Examples of theses methods include current technology, self-evaluation, research and development funding, the number of new products, and intellectual property. In addition to the...
Wood plastic composites (WPCs) are composite materials made from thermoplastic polymers, wood flour, and a small amount of process- and property-enhancing additives; they are principally used in the automotive industry and as secondary building materials. Although the WPC market is expected to keep growing, it is still relatively small when...
Hygro-mechanical effect is a general term applied to all phenomena that involves interaction between moisture content and mechanical characteristics of hygroscopic materials by analogy to thermo-mechanical effects. The hygromechanical effects include (but are not limited to) free shrinkage/swelling, effect of moisture on elastic modulus, strength, creep, failure mechanisms, and mechano...
The objective of this project was to develop an analytical model of a light-framed wood structure using a prevalent structural analysis computer program in order to evaluate system effects and define load paths within the structure, especially under extreme wind events. Simplified modeling techniques and material definitions were developed and...
There is significant interest in utilizing microalgae as a source for biofuels. Diatoms are a class of single-celled microalgae which make silica cell walls and require dissolved silicon as a substrate for cell division. Manipulation of soluble silicon delivery to the culture offers a route to control cell cycle and...
The increasing demand for forest products and restricted use of natural forests has resulted in a shortage of high-strength wood fiber. The area covered by plantation forests is steadily rising, but the fiber produced by these forests is often unsuitable for high-strength applications. One attempt to combat this problem is...
Engineers, in practice, are often faced with the challenge of evaluating a fire-damaged structure and developing a rehabilitation and retrofit plan. In order to decide on a rehabilitation and retrofit plan, information on thermal degradation of building materials and connections are vital. A critical knowledge gap exists in terms of...
As drop-on-demand (DOD) applications continue to gain ground in desktop inkjet-printing, 3D printing, fluid mixing, and other areas the demand for higher frequency operations are beginning to push against the current physical boundaries in DOD technology. The current research is exploring the possibility of controlling drop volume and velocity at...
Meeting the energy demands of the future is one of the most important challenges facing the engineering community today. An example of this problem is transportation fuels. Most of the current transportation fuels are composed of petroleum hydrocarbons. Finding a viable alternative is important given the potential scarcity of these...
Identifying material characteristics of composites is important in designing any
structural system. The aerospace industry relies on these material properties not only to
design a functional aircraft, but also a safe and reliable one. Since carbon fiber
composites are relatively new materials, little is known about its characteristics under
certain...