The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of applied compressive strain in various environments, on the strength and stiffness of compressed wood samples. It is believed that transverse compression of wood at specific conditions of temperature and moisture will result in improved mechanical properties, which can be attributed to increased density and perhaps other physical or chemical changes. Specimens of both mature and juvenile southern pine (Pinus taeda) and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) were compressed radially at three different temperature, and moisture content conditions relevant to the glass transition of wood. Ultimate tensile stress and longitudinal modulus of elasticity were obtained by testing compressed, uncompressed and control samples in tension parallel-to-grain. Strain measurements were performed using laboratory-built clip-on strain gauge transducers. Results of the tensile tests have shown an increase in the ultimate tensile stress and modulus of elasticity after all densification treatments. Scanning electron microscopy was employed for observing changes in cellular structure of densified wood. Existence of the cell wall fractures was evaluated using image processing and analysis software. Changes in cellular structure were correlated with the results of the tensile test. Chemical composition of wood samples before and after desorption experiments was determined by acid hydrolysis followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results of the chemical analysis of the wood specimens did not reveal significant changes in chemical composition of wood when subjected to 160 °C, pure steam for up to 8 hours. The results of this research will provide information about modifications that occur during wood compression and will result in better understanding of material behavior during the manufacture of wood-based composites. In the long run, modification of wood with inadequate mechanical properties can have a significant effect on the wood products industry. Low density and juvenile wood can be used in new high-performance wood-based composite materials instead of old-growth timber. / Master of Science

The bond performance and surface energy of hygro-thermal compression densified wood were studied using comparisons to hygro-thermally treated and control yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Bond performance was studied using opening mode double cantilever beam fracture testing and cyclic boiling of one half of all fracture samples. Phenol formaldehyde film (PF-film) and polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI) were the two different adhesives used to bond fracture samples. Hygro-thermal samples bonded with PF-film had significantly higher fracture toughness than control samples, while no difference was found for densified samples. Densified samples bonded with pMDI had significantly higher fracture toughness than control samples while no change was seen for hygro-thermal samples. Boil cycling reduced fracture toughness of hygro-thermal fracture samples only, irrespective of adhesive type. Surface energy was studied using sessile drop contact angle measurement and the Chang model of acid-base, surface energy component calculation. Water, glycerol, formamide, ethylene glycol, and -Bromonapthalene were used as probe liquids. Densified and hygro-thermally treated yellow-poplar had significantly higher contact angles than control samples. The contact angle trends for densified and hygro-thermally treated wood were found to be the same. Total surface energy as well as the polar and acid components of surface energy decreased with hygro-thermal treatment. The dispersive and base components of surface energy increased with hygro-thermal treatment. / Master of Science

I detta examensarbete behandlas en jämförelse mellan två olika material utifrån LCC för GC-broar. Dessa är stål och Delignified Densified Wood (DDW). Samhället är i behov av att utvecklas inom ett mer hållbart- och anpassad till klimatkraven. Detta innebär att det ställs krav på Trafikverket. Dessa krav innebär bland annat att byggnadsmaterial behöver utvecklas. Sverige har god tillgång till skog och träframtagning. Trafikverket bör nyttja mer av träets potential. Denna studie har därför gjorts för att bedöma DDW som är ett träbaserat material utifrån intervjuer och livscykelkostnadsanalys (LCC-analys). LCC är ett tillvägagångsätt för att få en totalbild över en produkts samtliga kostnader under dess livslängd. Det vill säga att för en bro bedöms kostnaderna från projektering till rivning. Syftet med LCC-analys är att hitta den mest lönsamma investeringskostnad som uppfyller dagens samhällskrav. DDW är framtagen av Forskare vid Marylands Universitet. Forskningen har observerat att obehandlat trä går att få lika starkt som stål. Processen innebär att ligninet avlägsnas och träet placeras i tryck under värme på cirka 100 C°. Detta leder till att cellulosafibrerna pressas samman och blir hårdare. Det resulterar förenklat sagt att träet blir mycket hårdare, tåligare och starkare och går att forma och böja. Resultatet av examensarbetet tyder på att DDW inte är lämpligt just nu som konstruktionsmaterial i utomhusklimat och inte är ekonomiskt lönsamt. DDW är vetenskapligt intressant och bör forskas vidare. I dagsläget rekommenderas inte DDW som GC-bromaterial. Trafikverket bör bygga mer GC- broar av trä som passar väl som GC-bromaterial. / n this thesis a comparison is made between two different construction materials based on LCC for pedestrian and cycle bridges. These materials are steel and Delignified Densified Wood (DDW). Today ́s society needs to develop with more sustainable and climate-friendly construction. This need imposes demands on the Swedish transport administration, e.g. that building materials need to be developed. One viable material for Sweden, since it has good access to forestry and wood production, is wood. The Swedish transport administration should use more of the potential of wood. This study therefore assesses DDW, which is a wood-based material, based on interviews and life cycle cost analysis (LCC-analysis). LCC is a way of getting a complete picture of a product's entire costs during its lifespan. In the case of a bridge, the costs are estimated from planning to demolition. The purpose of LCC analysis is to find the most profitable investment cost that meets today's social requirements. DDW is developed by researchers at Maryland University. Researchers have observed that natural wood can be as strong as steel. The process involves removing lignin and placing it under pressure at a temperature of about 100 ° C. This causes the cellulosic fibers to compress and become harder. This simply means that the wood becomes much harder, more durable and stronger, and can also shape and bend. The result of the thesis suggests that DDW is not suitable at present as construction material in outdoor climate and is not economically profitable. DDW is scientifically interesting and should be researched further.