Search Results (974)

With the rapid expansion of the global timber trade, accurate wood identification has become essential for regulating ecosystems and combating illegal logging. Traditional methods, largely reliant on manual analysis, are inadequate for large-scale, high-precision demands. A multi-architecture fusion network model that combines generative adversarial networks and one-dimensional convolutional neural networks aims to solve the problems in data quality and the challenges in classification accuracy existing in the classification process of pine tree species. The generative adversarial network is used to improve the data, which effectively expands the scale of the training set. Moreover, the one-dimensional convolutional neural network is utilized to extract local and global features from the spectral data, which improves the classification accuracy of the model and also makes the model more stable. The results obtained from the experiment show that MAFNet can achieve an accuracy rate of 99.63% in the classification of pine species. The model performed best on cross-sectional data. The research finds that MAFNet, relying on the strategy of integrating data enhancement and deep feature extraction, provides strong technical support for the rapid, accurate and non-destructive identification of pine species. Full article

The integration of wood and concrete in building structures is a well-established practice typically realized through mechanical connectors. However, the thermomechanical behavior of wood–concrete composite façades assembled via adhesive bonding remains underexplored. This study introduces a novel concept—the adhesive-bonded wood–concrete façade, termed “Hybrimur”—and evaluates the response of these façade panels under thermal gradients, with a focus on thermal bowing phenomena. Four full-scale façade prototypes (3 m high × 6 m wide), consisting of 7 cm thick concrete and 16 cm thick laminated timber (GL24h), were fabricated and tested both with and without insulation. Two reinforcement types were considered: fiberglass-reinforced concrete and welded mesh reinforcement. The study combines thermal analysis of temperature gradients at the adhesive interface with analytical and numerical methods to investigate thermal expansion effects. The experimental and numerical results revealed thermal strains concentrated at the wood–concrete interface without inducing panel failure. Thermal bowing (out-of-plane deflection) exhibited a nonlinear behavior influenced by the adhesive bond and the anisotropic nature of the wood. These findings highlight the importance of accounting for both interface behavior and wood anisotropy in the design of hybrid façades subjected to thermal loading. A tentative finite element model is proposed that utilizes isotropic wood with properties that limit the accuracy of the results obtained by the model. Full article

A novel methodology for hybrid energy management in aquaculture is introduced, aimed at enhancing self-sufficiency and optimizing grid-related cash flows. Wind and solar energy generation are modeled using calibrated turbine performance curves and PVGIS data, respectively, with a photovoltaic capacity of 120 kWp. The system also incorporates a 250 kW small hydroelectric plant and a wood drying kiln that utilizes surplus wind energy. This study conducts a comparative analysis between HY4RES, a research-oriented simulation model, and HOMER Pro, a commercially available optimization tool, across multiple hybrid energy scenarios at two aquaculture sites. For grid-connected configurations at the Primary site (base case, Scenarios 1, 2, and 6), both models demonstrate strong concordance in terms of energy balance and overall performance. In Scenario 1, a peak power demand exceeding 1000 kW is observed in both models, attributed to the biomass kiln load. Scenario 2 reveals a 3.1% improvement in self-sufficiency with the integration of photovoltaic generation, as reported by HY4RES. In the off-grid Scenario 3, HY4RES supplies an additional 96,634 kWh of annual load compared to HOMER Pro. However, HOMER Pro indicates a 3.6% higher electricity deficit, primarily due to battery energy storage system (BESS) losses. Scenario 4 yields comparable generation outputs, with HY4RES enabling 6% more wood-drying capacity through the inclusion of photovoltaic energy. Scenario 5, which features a large-scale BESS, highlights a 4.7% unmet demand in HY4RES, whereas HOMER Pro successfully meets the entire load. In Scenario 6, both models exhibit similar load profiles; however, HY4RES reports a self-sufficiency rate that is 1.3% lower than in Scenario 1. At the Secondary site, financial outcomes are closely aligned. For instance, in the base case, HY4RES projects a cash flow of 54,154 EUR, while HOMER Pro estimates 55,532 EUR. Scenario 1 presents nearly identical financial results, and Scenario 2 underscores HOMER Pro’s superior BESS modeling capabilities during periods of reduced hydroelectric output. In conclusion, HY4RES demonstrates robust performance across all scenarios. When provided with harmonized input parameters, its simulation results are consistent with those of HOMER Pro, thereby validating its reliability for hybrid energy management in aquaculture applications. Full article

To increase and optimize the use of wood in structural elements, a deep understanding of its mechanical behavior is necessary. The transverse material properties of wood are particularly important for mass timber construction and for utilizing wood as a strengthening material in timber connections. This study experimentally determined the stiffness and strength of Scots pine wood under compression perpendicular to the grain and rolling shear loading, as well as their dependence on the annual ring structure. A previously established biaxial test configuration was employed for this purpose. The modulus of elasticity in the radial direction was found to be about twice that in the tangential direction (687 vs. 372 N/mm²), although the strength in the tangential direction (5.19 N/mm²) was comparatively higher than that in the radial direction (4.70 N/mm²). For rolling shear, especially for the rolling shear modulus, a large variation was found, and its relationship with annual ring structure was assessed. The obtained RS modulus ranged from 50 to 254 N/mm², while RS strength was found to be between 2.14 and 4.61 N/mm². The results aligned well with previous findings. Full article

Coffee processing generates large volumes of spent coffee grounds (SCGs), which contain 30–40% hemicellulose, 8.6–13.3% cellulose, and 25–33% lignin, making them a promising lignin-rich filler for biocomposites. Conventional wood composites rely on urea-formaldehyde (UF), melamine–urea–formaldehyde (MUF), and phenol–formaldehyde resins (PF), which dominate 95% of the market. Although formaldehyde emissions from these resins can be mitigated through strict hygiene standards and technological measures, concerns remain due to their classification as category 1B carcinogens under EU regulations. In this study, fiber-based biocomposites were fabricated from thermomechanical wood fibers, SCGs, and ammonium lignosulfonate (ALS). SCGs and ALS were mixed in a 1:1 ratio and incorporated at 40–75% of the oven-dry fiber mass. Hot pressing was performed at 150 °C under 1.1–1.8 MPa to produce panels with a nominal density of 750 kg m⁻³, and we subsequently tested them for their physical properties (density, water absorption (WA), and thickness swelling (TS)), mechanical properties (modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and internal bond (IB) strength), and thermal behavior and biodegradation performance. A binder content of 50% yielded MOE ≈ 2707 N mm⁻² and MOR ≈ 22.6 N mm⁻², comparable to UF-bonded medium-density fiberboards (MDFs) for dry-use applications. Higher binder contents resulted in reduced strength and increased WA values. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG) revealed an inorganic residue of 2.9–8.5% and slower burning compared to the UF-bonded panels. These results demonstrate that SCGs and ALS can be co-utilized as a renewable, formaldehyde-free adhesive system for manufacturing wood fiber composites, achieving adequate performance for value-added practical applications while advancing sustainable material development. Full article

The construction sector accounts for one-third of Europe’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, offering significant potential for emission reduction. Emission reduction can be achieved by substituting conventional building materials with wood- or bio-based alternatives; the difference in GHG emissions is referred to as the substitution potential (SP). In this study, a literature review was conducted to identify studies in which SPs had been determined. The calculation methods used for these SPs were then analysed in detail. The analysis considered the general conditions, outcomes, and scaling effects, revealing that differing initial conditions lead to inconsistent results. Therefore, transparent allocation of SPs and comparable product life cycle assessments (LCAs) based on functional equivalence are essential. To reliably extrapolate the benefits of wood use to the entire construction sector, scaling effects must be justified by consistent functional equivalence. For policy relevance, it is crucial that SPs are determined using the standardised rules and that the building level, as the actual place of material use, is not overlooked. This is particularly important when scaling up the effects of increased wood use to the landscape level. Only with these measures SPs at the product level can provide reliable results in a broader context. Additionally, the studies reviewed indicate that changes in forest management have not yet been considered. Full article

The resource utilization of peach wood as agricultural waste holds significant importance for the sustainable development of the edible fungi industry, yet its regulatory effects on the physiology and safety of Lentinula edodes (L. edodes) remain unclear. This study selected four L. edodes (F2, 0912, N5, and 215) and systematically analyzed their cultivation adaptability across five peach wood substrate proportions (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%). Results indicated that while high peach wood proportions inhibited laccase activity and delayed mycelial growth, high carboxymethyl cellulase and xylanase activity formed a critical compensatory effect, ultimately enhancing total yield. Peach wood improved production through strain-specific mechanisms. F2 increased via single mushroom weight gain, while N5 relied on xylanase-driven primordia differentiation to boost mushroom numbers. Adding peach wood significantly increased crude protein, crude lipid, and total polysaccharide in F2, maintaining normal agronomic traits and increasing secondary mushroom proportion. Safety risks focused on arsenic accumulation, with 80% peach wood causing F2 to exceed control levels, albeit remaining far below the national standards. This study is among the first to elucidate peach wood’s temporal enzyme regulation for the maintenance of L. edodes yield. Future optimization through peach wood pretreatment and low arsenic strain selection could provide technical support for the high value utilization of agricultural waste. Full article

To advance the development of green building materials and achieve high-value utilization of waste resources, this study investigates the mechanistic influence of incorporating waste wood fibers on the mechanical and thermal insulation properties of lightweight mortar. Five fiber contents were designed—0%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 1.2%, and 1.6%—to systematically evaluate their effects on compressive strength, flexural strength, and tensile bond strength, as well as thermal conductivity, pore structure, and microstructural interfaces. The results demonstrate that at low fiber dosages (particularly 0.4% and 0.8%), wood fibers can significantly enhance both the mechanical strength and thermal insulation performance of mortar. Specifically, at a fiber content of 0.8%, the 28-day compressive strength increased by 10.62%, and the flexural strength by 23.8%; the tensile bond strength reached its peak at 0.4%, with a 14.8% improvement. The lowest thermal conductivity recorded was 0.16 W/(m·K), accompanied by a remarkable 61.9% reduction in porosity compared to the control group. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) analysis revealed that wood fiber incorporation markedly increased the proportion of capillary pores, reduced total porosity, and enhanced mortar compactness; scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations further indicated that the honeycomb-like morphology and surface roughness of wood fibers substantially improved interfacial bonding performance and microcrack-bridging capacity. The findings suggest that an optimal fiber content—recommended to not exceed 0.8%—can synergistically improve the mechanical and thermal insulation properties of lightweight mortar, providing both theoretical support and practical guidance for its application in green building wall materials. Full article

Sustainable wood waste management is critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), mainly responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and climate action (SDG 13). This study investigated the role of communication channels in promoting sustainable wood waste management practices in the Czech Republic, utilizing survey data from 1050 respondents. Based on ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, the findings reveal that television is the most influential media source, significantly enhancing engagement in wood waste management practices (β = 0.0273, p < 0.10). Socio-economic characteristics, such as age (β = −0.0033, p < 0.001), gender (β = −0.0277, p < 0.10), and place size (β = 0.0150, p < 0.001), also play significant roles, with younger individuals and residents of larger communities showing higher engagement. However, the predominance of alternative disposal methods, such as burning, raises environmental concerns. The study emphasizes the importance of taking legislative measures that target the youth demographic, increase waste management infrastructure, especially in rural regions, and use television as a medium for information communication. These results contribute to the conversation about the bioeconomy and sustainable waste management while providing stakeholders and policymakers with valuable information. Full article

This study investigates how small logs from native trees, which fail to meet standard sawing criteria, can be utilized to enhance their value by producing solid wood for direct use or remanufacture rather than being relegated to biomass or fuelwood. We analyzed a sample of 177 small, discarded logs from native species from second-growth forests of Nothofagus in the Ñuble Region, Chile. The logs were scored after a qualitative and quantitative assessment for small logs, as designed in this study, and processed using a flexible sawing pattern to optimize wood recovery based on random lengths, widths, and thicknesses. Log dimensions varied, with lengths from 31 to 156.2 cm, small end diameters from 11.5 to 25.6 cm, and volumes between 0.001 and 0.092 m³. Key defects in logs included knots (95%), curvature (79%), and checks (46%), among others. A key result is the obtained general yield value of 36%, a considerable value for small-diameter, low-quality logs. The highest sawing yields were achieved with Nothofagus dombeyi (Mirb.) Oerst (42%), Geviuna avellana Molina and Persea lingue Miers ex Bertero Nees (39%), and Nothofagus obliqua (Mirb.) Oerst (34%). The quality of the boards correlates positively with the quality of the logs, and the yields with the log size and quality. The yield achieved in boards coming from such low-quality logs shows a promising possibility of improvement for this kind of process. Further development of the grading process and automation of the sawmill process could be future research steps. Full article

Hazel wood (Corylus avellana L.) is widespread in Europe but remains underutilized in industry. This study evaluated its potential as a raw material for three-layer particleboards for furniture and interior use. Boards were produced with barked and debarked hazel particles at substitution levels of 0–100% with industrial pine. All variants fulfilled EN 312 P2 requirements. Hazel particles increased the bulk density (211 for debarked vs. 160 kg m⁻³ for pine wood), affecting handling. The modulus of rupture remained stable (11.5–12.7 N mm⁻²), while the modulus of elasticity declined with the hazel content but stayed above 1600 N mm⁻². Internal bond strength improved markedly, reaching 1.63–1.66 N mm⁻² at full substitution, and screw withdrawal resistance rose to ~200 N mm⁻¹. However, dimensional stability worsened at 100% hazel, with higher thickness swelling and water absorption, especially for debarked material. Boards from fully debarked hazel also showed reduced core density to below 80% of the nominal density, potentially influencing bonding. The findings indicate that up to 50% hazel substitution is feasible without performance loss, while full replacement requires optimization of pressing and adhesives. Hazel wood thus represents a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional species, supporting more diversified raw material use in particleboard production. Full article

This study systematically analyzes the microstructure and radial variation of Cercis glabra wood, revealing its adaptive strategies for arid environments. The results show that the wood consists of thick-walled fibers (63%) and vessels (17.7%), with a semi-ring-porous structure and 48.4% average cell wall percentage. Fiber proportion peaks early (4 years), ensuring mechanical support, while vessel adjustment occurs later (19 years), balancing water transport. Rays decline sharply in the first 9 years, stabilizing thereafter, reflecting a shift from growth to structural stability. The high fiber proportion and occasional tyloses enhance durability, making it suitable for high-quality pulp, furniture, and humid environments such as shipbuilding. A rotation period ≥ 20 years ensures stable properties. Genetic breeding could shorten the juvenile stage and optimize vessel distribution. Future research should integrate multi-omics and environmental data to deepen our understanding of its adaptation mechanisms. This study provides a basis for the utilization of C. glabra resources. Full article

Porous carbon from renewable resources like biomass is a key material utilized in many applications ranging from environmental remediation to energy storage. There are limited reports in the literature on the effects of biomass pretreatment, production process parameters, and downstream processing on the final product properties. This is the first study aimed at closing the latter research gap. Six different types of underutilized biomass were examined: eastern red cedar wood, pecan shells, hazelnut shells, algal biomass, miscanthus, and sludge produced at municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Although pretreatment of biomass with KOH or ZnCl₂ enhanced formation of micro- and mesopores, carbon yield was lower (15.3–32.5%) than that obtained via non-catalytic pyrolysis (28.3–48%). An optimization study performed using response surface methodology and cedar wood has shown the significant effects (p < 0.05) of temperature and catalyst/biomass ratio on total BET pore volume and surface area. Additionally, catalyst/biomass ratio had a significant effect on the crystal structure and pore size distribution in the carbon produced by pyrolysis. Hence, optimization of process temperature, hold time, and activation ratio is capable of yielding porous carbon from cedar wood pyrolysis with desirable properties. Full article

Oak wood is a popular construction material in Europe. In the course of its service life, this wood is subject to structural changes resulting from the environmental conditions to which it is exposed, in addition to the effects of aging. Samples of naturally occurring historic European oak (Quercus robur L.) were obtained from foundation piles that were utilized to reinforce the riverbanks in Poland, the Vistula River basin, dating to the 2nd century, as well as from a 14th-century settlement on the river in Slupsk. Reference wood was also obtained from contemporary harvesting operations in the vicinity of Slupsk, Poland. The presence of structural changes resulting from partial wood degradation was confirmed through the utilization of FTIR spectroscopy analysis, SEM with BSD microscopy, and chromatic parameters. The differences in the color of historic and reference wood were significant (based on Kruskal–Wallis test = 46.38, where p < 0.001). The results of chemical analysis showed an increase in the proportion of lignin and a decrease in carbohydrate components for the old wood. A higher degree of change in lignin content was observed in historic wood (32–38%) compared to the fresh wood sample (25%). Our study showed that the collected data can be applied to the preparation database of heritage wood materials. Full article

Despite its success in measuring air–sea exchange, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) X-Spar Buoy faces operational limitations due to energy constraints, motivating the integration of an energy harvesting apparatus to improve its deployment duration and capabilities. This work explores the feasibility of an augmented, self-powered system in two parts. Part 1 presents the collaborative design between X-Spar developers and wave energy researchers translating user needs into specific functional requirements. Based on requirements like desired power levels, deployability, survivability, and minimal interference with environmental data collection, unsuitable concepts are pre-eliminated from further feasibility study consideration. In part 2, we focus on one of the promising concepts: an internal rigid body wave energy converter. We apply control co-design methods to consider commercial of the shelf hardware components in the dynamic models and investigate the concept’s power conversion capabilities using linear 2-port wave-to-wire models with concurrently optimized control algorithms that are distinct for every considered hardware configuration. During this feasibility study we utilize two different control algorithms, the numerically optimal (but acausal) benchmark and the optimized damping feedback. We assess the sensitivity of average power to variations in drive-train friction, a parameter with high uncertainty, and analyze stroke limitations to ensure operational constraints are met. Our results indicate that a well-designed power take-off (PTO) system could significantly extend the WEC-Spar’s mission by providing additional electrical power without compromising data quality. Full article