Wood Physics

Wood represents one of mankind’s most important materials. Currently, it’s significance is increasing thanks benefits such as its sustainability. This module aims at providing basic knowledge on the physical proper-ties of wood. Hereby, a focus will be laid on the relationships between wood structure and resulting mechanical and physical properties. In addi-tion, knowledge will be gained about commonly used wood species in timber engineering in Europe. Finally, some insight in current research in the field of wood science and technology will be provided. A main goal is to establish an awareness of a material-appropriate usage of wood.

Covered topics will include:

• General introduction, the resource wood
• Wood structure and function, wood biology, wood chemistry
• Wood-water interaction: Wood moisture, swelling and shrink-age
• Physical properties: Density, thermal and electrical properties of wood
• Mechanical properties: Anisotropy, elasticity, strength, scale-dependency, long-term behavior, micromechanics, modelling

The module is taught in English. Knowledge of general basics of engineering sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, and mechanics on a B.Sc level) are of advantage.

Wood Physics, 14 lectures (90 min) + 14 exercise hours (90 min)