NSERC research network to lead to increased use of wood in tall buildings
Forest research across the country is about to ramp up, thanks in part to a 5-year investment from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada. The research investment will be dedicated to support the efforts of four targeted and strategic forest research networks, established in 2009. The University of New Brunswick is set to play a significant role in one of the networks.
Dr. Ying Hei Chui, a professor with the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) was selected as one of four scientific directors across the country to lead the NSERC Strategic Network on Innovative Wood Products and Building Systems (NEWBuildS) which is hosted at UNB His role as chief administrator and scientific leader of NEWBuildS will be supported at UNB by the efforts of Dr. Meng and Dr. Ian Smith, both internationally recognized researchers and educators at the University. Nationally he will work closely with colleagues from FPInnovations in the administration of the Network.
Dr. Chui will head up a team of leading researchers in wood science, structural engineering, fire engineering, acoustics, building envelope and architecture at Universities across the country. NEWBuildS will work closely with the Quebec and Vancouver labs of FPInnovations, the Canadian Wood Council and the Institute for Research in Construction of the National Research Council Canada.
There are four major technical themes in NEWBuildS: 1. Cross laminated timber (CLT)—material characterization and structural performance; 2. Hybrid building systems—structural performance; 3. Building systems—fire performance, acoustic and vibration serviceability; 4. Building systems—durability, sustainability and enhanced products.
Researching new, innovative and tested technologies for timber and wood-based products as primary structural material in non-residential and mid-rise (5 – 12 stories) construction projects is one of the objectives for the Network. The hybridization of construction, using a combination of materials and construction techniques, is a critical element of the research. In today’s world, much of the engineering research on mid and high-rise construction is focused on the use of steel and reinforced concrete. Dr. Smith believes this can change with science that supports using more wood and/or wood-based structural material, sometimes in combination with other structural materials to address the highly complex requirements of the building codes.
Dr. Smith’s role in the network is team leader of the Hybrid-Construction Theme, focusing on structural engineering issues. He will personally take the lead in two projects: techniques for forming multi-functional construction interfaces in hybrid buildings, and; movements and deformation incompatibilities of materials in timber heavy-frame construction. Dr. Gong will lead two research projects on developing test and design methods for relatively new-engineered wood products called cross-laminated timber.
Approximately 40 established researchers across the nation from universities, FPInnovations, Canadian Wood Council and National Research Council will invest five years of research effort to achieve the Network’s goals and will train about 50 to 60 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows during the 5 years.
The list of deliverables will be groundbreaking, once again repositioning Canada as a leader in the design, construction and research aspects of using wood structural wood products in multi-storey buildings.
The potential benefits for the wood industry are immense with the penetration of a non-traditional construction market. The construction industry will also see financial advantages with prefabrication, quicker build times using less heavy equipment, lighter framework and reduced foundation costs, not to mention the fact that using more wood in construction represents a significant shift towards green technology in construction.
– Barb Scott
