Everyday objects inspire and inform what I do. The personal histories and associations we may have with ordinary things are of great personal interest to me. Often times, these items reflect the social class, education, and background of the owners. I am drawn to these objects and the possibility of elevating them in a way that transcends their implied meanings (their worth, importance, and status). The transformation of the mundane is a method of working that allows associations to remain intact while bringing new meaning and perspective to the object. My method of working becomes an alchemic process aimed at turning the ordinary into "art" which is second only to turning used cooking oil into fuel to run your car, and maybe third to turning lead into gold.

O setor da construção civil em países desenvolvidos tem caminhado no sentido da industrialização e da sustentabilidade dos materiais construtivos e estruturais, e neste sentido a construção em madeira maciça tem ganhado destaque. Produtos como painéis de CLT já estão sendo usados para construção de grandes prédios multipavimentos, porem outros produtos que utilizam o mesmo princípio da laminação cruzada vem ganhando espaço, como é o caso do painel de lamelas cruzadas cavilhadas, chamado de DCLT. Neste estudo, avaliou-se o comportamento estrutural de painéis DCLT com lamelas feitas com madeira de Pinus Elliottii e Pinus Taeda e cavilhas de pau-roxo (Peltogyne spp., Leguminosae), onde foi desenvolvido um modelo de ensaio específico para as ligações neste tipo de painel, simulações em software de elementos finitos no modelo de ensaio desenvolvido, ensaios de flexão nos painéis de tamanho estrutural e posterior comparação com os métodos analíticos de cálculo de painéis de lamelas cruzada. Os resultados obtidos para rigidez dos painéis foram de 727 e 1353 kNm² para o painel de 3 e 5 camadas, respectivamente. Os valores analíticos ficaram muito próximos aos valores experimentais, validando o novo procedimento de ensaio com o qual foi obtido o valor do módulo de deslizamento usado nos cálculos analíticos. Em termos de resistência, o painel de 3 camadas se mostrou mais resistente, pois com uma dimensão menor, resistiu proporcionalmente mais carga. De maneira geral, os painéis poderiam vencer vãos de até quatro metros suportando uma carga de 150 kg/m², mostrando ser um potencial produto para uso em obras residenciais. / The construction sector in developed countries has been moving towards industrialization and sustainability of construction and structural materials and in this sense solid wood construction has gained prominence. New products such as CLT panels are used for construction of multi-storey building, and other products that use the same principle of cross lamination have been gaining ground, as is the case of the dowel cross laminated timber panel, called DCLT. In this study, we evaluated the structural behavior of DCLT panels with Pinus Elliottii and Pinus Taeda wood lamellae and pau-roxo dowels (Peltogyne spp., Leguminosae), where a specific test model was developed for connections in this type. Finite element simulations was made for the developed test model, bending tests on structural size panels and subsequent comparison with the analytical methods of calculating cross sided panels. The results obtained for the sttiffiness of the panels were 727 and 1353 kNm² for the 3 and 5 layer panels, respectively. The analytical values were very close to the experimental values, validating the new test procedure with which the value of the slip module used in the analytical calculations was obtained. In terms of strength, the 3-layer panel was more resistant, because with a smaller size, it resisted proportionally more load. In general, the panels could cover span of up to four meters supporting a load of 150 kg/m², proving to be a potential product for use in residential works.

This document outlines a journey of self-exploration, discovery, construction and destruction. It is a story of learning, a testament to impermanence, and a proposal for possibility. The words and work contained in this document are exclusive to the thoughts and actions of one man that hopes to share with others.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This research aimed at investigating the influence of the positioning of Eucalyptus saligna and Pinus taeda wood veneers on the layers composing the Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) structural panels. The panels were manufactured in six different combinations of five veneers of 3,2 mm, glued with phenol-formaldehyde, resulting in treatments constituted of wood of the same species or with a composition of the two wood types. The evaluation of the proposed combinations was performed under the characterization of physical properties (moisture content, density, water absortion, thickness swelling and volumetric expansion) and mechanical properties verified in flatwise and edgewise static bending (modulus of elasticity, stress at the proportional limit and modulus of rupture). The quality of the adhesive wood bonding was evaluated through the glue line shear strength by compression loading and the percentage of wood failure. Wood bonding tests were done with wood of the same species and wood of two studied types. The results obtained indicated that, in most situations, the different positionings of the veneers with larger density (in the outer, intermediate and inner layers) influenced the mechanical properties of the panels. The influence detected was varied, especially for MOE and MOR when comparing the flatwise and edgewise experimented positions. In certain positions, in the layers of the LVL compositions, the presence of eucalypt veneers resulted in stiffness and strength increases. In dry shear the resistances of the joints were shown to be equivalent; after boiling, the joints in eucalypt veneers presented larger strength. The percentage of wood failure was above 80% (in eucalypt veneers) and above 90% (in pine and mixed veneers) and maintained stable after boiling, indicating good gluing quality for all the tested wood bondings. However, it was verified that the adhesive wood bonding of eucalypt and pine was shown more reliable than the bonding between eucalypt veneers. Therefore, the treatments formed by interposed veneers of eucalypt and pine presented a better combination of performance and reliability for the properties of stiffness, strength and adherence. / Investigou-se a influência do posicionamento de lâminas de madeira de Eucalyptus saligna e Pinus taeda nas camadas componentes de painéis estruturais Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL). Os painéis foram manufaturados em seis diferentes combinações de cinco lâminas de 3,2 mm de espessura, coladas com adesivo fenolformaldeído, resultando em tratamentos constituídos de madeira de uma mesma espécie e outros com mistura de madeira das duas espécies. A avaliação das combinações propostas foi realizada mediante a caracterização de propriedades físicas (teor de umidade, massa específica, absorção de água, inchamento em espessura e expansão volumétrica) e propriedades mecânicas, verificadas em ensaios de flexão estática flatwise e edgewise (módulo de elasticidade, tensão no limite proporcional e módulo de ruptura). A qualidade da colagem foi avaliada por meio da resistência ao cisalhamento na linha de cola por ensaio de compressão e do percentual de falha na madeira. Foram testadas colagens de madeira de mesma espécie e entre madeiras das duas espécies estudadas. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que, na maior parte das vezes, os diferentes posicionamentos das lâminas de maior massa específica (nas camadas externas, intermediárias e de miolo) influíram nas propriedades mecânicas dos painéis. A influência constatada mostrouse variada, em especial para MOE e MOR, quando comparados os valores para as posições de ensaio flatwise e edgewise. Em determinadas posições, nas camadas das composições LVL, a presença de lâminas de eucalipto resultou em aumentos de rigidez e resistência. Em cisalhamento a seco, as resistências das juntas se mostraram equivalentes; entretanto, após fervura, as juntas entre lâminas de eucalipto apresentaram maior resistência. Os percentuais de falha na madeira foram superiores a 80% (entre lâminas de eucalipto) e a 90% (entre lâminas de pinus e em juntas mistas) e se mantiveram estáveis após a fervura, indicando boa qualidade de adesão para todas as colagens testadas. Entretanto, a colagem entre eucalipto e pinus mostrou-se mais confiável que a colagem entre lâminas de eucalipto. Contudo, os tratamentos formados por lâminas intercaladas de eucalipto e pinus apresentaram uma melhor combinação de performance e confiabilidade para as propriedades de rigidez, resistência e aderência.

The diploma thesis focuses on shape optimization and then on determining of strength of straw bane panels. The thesis aims to maximize the load-bearing capacity of the panels and using static calculation and laboratory testing to prove usability of panels in construction of buildings. From the acquired maximal load values for each panel the technical data sheets were created. Values in the technical data sheets were evaluated on FEM model of a simple house. The model proved applicability and reliability of straw bane panels in construction of buildings.

The Vertically Oriented Interlocking Timber (VOIT) panel is a new solid wood panel similar to Interlocking Cross Laminated Timber (ICLT) and the more commonly known Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). Like ICLT, VOIT panels use timber connections instead of the adhesives or metal fasteners common to CLT. The difference of VOIT is the orientation of the layers. Where CLT and ICLT panels alternate the orientation of each layer, VOIT panels orient all the layers in the same direction. The vertically oriented layers are then attached to one another by smaller horizontal dovetail members.Two types of VOIT panels were provided to be tested for in-plane lateral loading. Type I had three rows of horizontal dovetail members connecting the layers and Type II had four rows of dovetail members as well as two diagonal members to provide stiffness. Two panels of each type were provided, measuring 8 ft. wide, 8 ft. tall, and 13.75 in. thick. Each panel was disassembled after monotonic lateral in-plane loading to determine possible failure modes. Testing results suggest the VOIT panels to be comparable in shear strength to other wood shear walls, including light frame, CLT, and ICLT walls. A two-part analytical model was created to determine the deflection of the wall when loaded as well as the shear strength of the wall. The model predicted deflection and wall strength reasonably well. Due to the small sample size, additional testing is necessary to confirm the results of the Type I and Type II VOIT panels. Additional testing with more variations of the panel and member geometries is also needed to validate the scope of the model.