Expanding the Market of Biomaterials

Abstract

Biomaterials such as wood and bamboo are in high demand as a building material with the push for building with green technology. The wood product industry accounts for approximately 4% of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP (Gross Domestic Product), which is more than $100 billion. The industry supports over 752,000 full-time equivalent jobs, most of which are in rural areas where employment opportunities are limited. The estimated global market value of bamboo is estimated to be $60 billion annually. This research will explore the use of wood and bamboo in different end use products. The objectives of this research will 1) evaluate the behavior of two single bolt connections in the post-to-rail joint in a hardwood stairway system; 2) the potential of post-treating pre-fabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels with two different copper based preservative treatments; and 3) estimated design values for a commercially sourced bolt laminated bamboo industrial mat. To accomplish these objectives, this dissertation is divided into five sections: 1) Introduction, 2) Structural performance of the post-to-rail connectors in a hardwood stairway handrail, 3) Development of preservative-treated cross-laminated timber: effects of panel layup and thickness on bonding performance and durability when treated with copper-azole (CA-C) and micronized copper-azole (MCA), 4) Strength and stiffness of 3-ply industrial bamboo matting, 5) Conclusion.