Engineered timber structures research group

The Engineered Timber Structures Research Group is world renowned for excellence in R&D related to using timber and wood-based products in construction. Focus of activities is multi-scale understanding of how complete structural systems function. Projects encompass issues like how complete buildings (or other built structures) respond to effects of wind storms, ground shaking during earthquakes, or other actions like impacts and blasts. The goal is to improve the efficiency and performance of complete systems, and extension of uses of timber into new construction applications. To illustrate, one research interest is the use of timber within hybrid construction systems for tall buildings. Studies have been performed on systems with steel girders and columns and massive wood floor and roof slabs. Because of the relatively low mass of the timber slabs, compared with traditional reinforced concrete slabs, it is possible to grossly reduce the mechanical demand on the steel girders and columns. Thereby it is possible to design very tall buildings that will not incur damage even under the most severe earthquakes. The group’s world leading research in this area is undertaken in collaboration with colleagues from the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich in Switzerland who specialize in fire engineering of buildings, reflecting that humans fear fire more than most other threats to life. Although the solution of structural issues is that primary focus of the group it is not the only one. Attention is also given to thermal and moisture performance of constructed systems, which relate to economic and ecological concerns of operating efficiency, durability and air quality. The output from projects is always data, models and know-how for improved engineering design of systems and improved construction methods and practices.

Both experimental and theoretical analyses are performed as complementary tools towards the group’s aims. Experimental facilities include state of the art high-bay and materials labs. Tools for theoretical work include advanced numerical analysis software for predicting physical and mechanical responses of components and systems.

Strong affiliations have been established between the group and complementary research groups at national and international levels. National collaborations include projects with researchers from the universities of British Columbia, Concordia, Manitoba, McGill and Western Ontario. International collaborations include projects with the universities of Auckland in New Zealand, ETH-Zurich in Switzerland, Penn State in the USA and Trento in Italy. There are also strong affiliations to researchers in government and industry led research institutes in Canada and abroad. Students and postdoctoral fellows have many opportunities to use facilities belonging to affiliated groups and institutes. Great care is taken to ensure that every thesis project matches the interests of any graduate student and provides them learning experiences that address holistic understanding of the field. Pride is taken in continuing achievements of graduate students many of whom now occupy leading positions within industry, government and academic sectors in Canada, USA and overseas. Apart from various UNB awards, awards won by past graduate students include the Forest Products Society’s “Wood Award”, the Forest Products Society’s “Young Engineer Achievement Award”, a “Madam Curie Fellowship” awarded by the Commission of the European Communities (ranked 1 from 450 postdoctoral applicants in all fields of study), and best journal paper awards from internationally based learned societies.

As the research leader Professor Smith always likes to say, “We have no affiliation to any particular interest group or industrial sector. We are not irrational purveyors of messages like ‘wood is good’. What we do is develop technical know-how and provide training related to helping people use what is arguably the world’s most versatile construction material in a manner that befits 21st century science”. The group draws its members from around the globe and is always willing to welcome new arrivals.

For further information contact:

Ian Smith DSc, PhD, CEng, PEng, F.ASCE, F.IABSE, F.IMMM,  FISructE, Professor of Structural and Timber Engineering, and University Research Scholar (ismith@unb.ca)