SEK 2.8 million to collaboration project that will develop innovative technology for hardwood constructions
Europe has a large and increasing deciduous tree stock that, unfortunately, is an underutilised resource in the construction industry. Researchers at the department of building technology at Linnaeus University will now work together with companies and universities in Germany, Austria, and France to develop economic, reliable, and innovative technology to make it possible to better utilise these resources.
Hardwood has a great potential to be used in load-bearing constructions, but today it is instead often used for furniture or fuel. If, instead, we could also use hardwood in dwelling houses and other buildings there are both financial and environmental gains to be had. Unfortunately, there are no efficient, mechanical connection solutions to join hardwood elements, which is an obstacle to an efficient and economic utilisation of hardwood in load-bearing wood structures.
– To increase the number of wood buildings and transition to a more sustainably built environment we need efficient, sustainable and, above all, reliable design methods. Today hardwood is hardly used in timber constructions, but hardwood possesses good mechanical properties. The increased volumes of hardwood in our forests give us the opportunity to develop advanced products for sustainable buildings, given that reliable design methods are available, says Thomas K Bader.
The Swedish part of the project is funded by Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency, and Formas and will run from 2019 to 2022.
Contact
Thomas K Bader, associate professor of building technology, +4672-522 59 78, Thomas.bader@lnu.se
Simon Karlsson, communications officer research, +46470-76 74 87, simon.karlsson@lnu.se