Material use in the construction industry is expected to double by 2060. Building more in wood is one way to reduce the sector’s climate impact, but it requires more efficient use of materials.
At Linnaeus University Centre for Competitive Timber Structures, expertise covers the entire forest value chain – from forest biomaterials to the design of timber-based building systems, monitoring of structural health, industrial production, and energy- and climate-efficient buildings.
Thomas K Bader
Professor of building technology
Thomas Bader comes from Austria and holds an associate professorship in materials and structural mechanics from Technische Universität Wien. He develops computational and analytical methods to better understand the material or component behaviour of timber in engineered structures.
GRANTS AWARDED SINCE 2016
SEK 70.1 million
Funder: The Knowledge Foundation
SEK 8.5 million
Funders: Formas, Smart Housing Småland, The Södra Foundation for Research, Development and Education, Vinnova, Växjö Municipality
“A better understanding of materials and structures helps solve major societal challenges from a holistic perspective. We can show how advances made early in the chain – such as in the production of wood materials – can have great significance later in the construction process, or for maintenance, adaptation and reuse of buildings”, says Thomas Bader, professor of building technology and head of the research environment.
The cutting-edge research environment complements the university’s applied research with fundamental research.
“Here we can delve deeper into both material properties and system analyses to truly understand how wood can be used in the best possible way”, explains Thomas.
Facilitating management and recycling
The key to sustainable timber construction is not only to build new in better ways, but also to manage what already exists. One area involves identifying material and structural solutions that make recycling easier. Another involves creating so-called digital twins of buildings.
In Sweden, reduced logging is expected, which places demands on us to utilise raw materials more efficiently in products.
“With these, we gain a clear picture of the building, can detect maintenance needs, and gather information from the entire value chain – everything from the origin of the materials and the building’s construction to up-to-date measurements of its properties and condition. This supports long-term sustainable thinking and reduces climate impact, as we can use less material and reuse more”, Thomas continues.
More than material and strength
Within Competitive Timber Structures, expertise from across the university is brought together. Building technology collaborates with the fields of forestry and wood technology, built environment and energy technology, as well as mechanical engineering, to understand how forest resources can contribute to sustainable societal development.
“The use of forest resources is currently the subject of a polarised debate – should we prioritise the production of materials and energy, or increase forest protection? In Sweden, reduced logging is expected, which places demands on us to utilise raw materials more efficiently in products. At the same time, there is enormous potential to replace fossil-based materials with forest biomaterials, especially in the construction sector”, Thomas concludes.
To demonstrate how timber construction in a circular bioeconomy can help reduce climate impact, the research centre conducts system analyses – from the forest to finished buildings. These may have regional perspectives as well as a global perspective.
