Search Results (128)

Additive manufacturing offers opportunities to improve material efficiency and support more resource-efficient production of furniture components by reducing material consumption while maintaining sufficient mechanical performance for practical use in wooden structures. This study evaluated the effect of perimeter count and cubic infill density on the mechanical behaviour and material efficiency of FDM-printed dovetail connectors made from recycled PLA+ and used in wooden frame corner joints. Connectors were manufactured with three infill densities (20%, 30%, and 40%) and three perimeter configurations (1P, 3P, and 5P). Mechanical tests were performed on beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) corner joints, and maximum bending moment, rotational stiffness, and specific maximum bending moment were evaluated. The experimental results were supported by a homogenized shell–core FEM model used to analyse contact behaviour, load transfer, and critical stress regions. Perimeter count had a statistically significant effect on the maximum bending moment, whereas infill density did not. Among the evaluated configurations, 3P30 exhibited one of the highest mean bending moments (14,998 N·mm) and the highest mean rotational stiffness (6172 N·mm/deg), whereas 3P20 achieved the highest specific maximum bending moment (3903 N·mm/g). Increasing infill density to 40% increased material consumption and printing time without proportional mechanical improvement. FEM analysis showed that configuration 3P30 achieved the highest contact pressure, frictional stress, and reaction force among the analysed 3P variants, whereas increasing infill density from 30% to 40% reduced sliding but did not improve the overall mechanical response of the joint. The results indicate that appropriate selection of perimeter count and infill density can improve material efficiency by reducing material consumption while maintaining the mechanical performance of FDM-printed furniture connectors, thereby supporting more resource-efficient and sustainable furniture manufacturing. Full article

This study focuses on the design and development of the Double Purpose Bench Vise to address safety, efficiency, and adaptability challenges in welding and fabrication environments. The project responds to limitations of conventional vises that restrict precision and increase the risk of strain-related injuries when handling heavy, irregular, or vertically oriented workpieces. Through an engineering-based development approach involving analysis, design, fabrication, and performance evaluation, the study introduces a Double Jaw Vertical Bench Vise equipped with a dual-clamping system and an integrated hydraulic jack mechanism for precise vertical adjustment with minimal physical effort. The device is designed to securely hold various materials, including metal bars, pipes, and wooden components, during cutting, grinding, shaping, welding, and assembly operations. Evaluation results from functional testing and user feedback indicate improved clamping stability, alignment accuracy, and ergonomic performance compared to traditional models, although refinements in structural optimization, weight distribution, and user interface components are recommended. The study suggests further prototype enhancement, extended field testing, and integration of advanced ergonomic and safety features to maximize durability, usability, and overall productivity in professional workshops and technical training laboratories. Full article

As an important medium for conveying rich historical and cultural information, the decorative elements of ancient Chinese timber architecture still lack a systematic understanding of their intrinsic cultural logic in current research and conservation practices. Guided by the cultural gene theory, this study systematically analyzes the wooden decorations of the Luzhai complex in Dongyang, Zhejiang, and constructs a “tangible–intangible” gene map comprising 24 relevant factors, including form, craftsmanship, and symbolic meaning. Through AHP-FCE (Analytic Hierarchy Process- Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation) quantitative analysis, 126 typical components from 427 decorative samples (including 165 from the Ming Dynasty and 262 from the Qing Dynasty) in the Ming and Qing Dynasty Luzhai in Dongyang were coded and quantitatively evaluated. The results indicate that the Ming-dynasty wooden architectural decorations in the Luzhai complex are characterized by botanical patterns, relief carving, and Confucian ethics, embodying restraint and ritual order; whereas Qing-dynasty decorations are characterized by animal patterns, round carving, and status symbols, reflecting sociocultural and economic transformation. This study provides a methodological framework for interpreting regional architectural decoration and offers theoretical and practical support for the conservation and digital preservation of traditional architectural heritage. Full article

Lhasella potala Zhou, Da, Zahradník & Bai, 2025, a wood-boring pest, infests wooden components of the Potala Palace and threatens structural integrity. To support conservation-oriented pest management, we sequenced and characterized its complete mitochondrial genome and conducted comparative and phylogenetic analyses within Ptinidae. The mitogenome is 15,399 bp long and contains 37 genes (13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and a control region). It exhibits high A + T content (74.23%), positive AT-skew (0.16), and negative GC-skew (−0.26). All PCGs employed ATT, ATA, ATG, ATC, or TTG as the start codons and TAA, TAG, or single T as the stop codons. Comparisons with Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius, 1775), Stegobium paniceum (Linnaeus, 1758), and Gastrallus laevigatus (Olivier, 1790) revealed similar genome sizes and conserved gene order. Ka/Ks analysis showed that cox1 evolves most slowly, whereas nad4 evolves fastest. Nucleotide diversity was low (Pi = 0.18–0.34). Phylogenetic analysis supports a close relationship between G. laevigatus and L. potala. Field observations indicate one generation per year, with peak activity from May to July. These results provide a basis for evolutionary studies and conservation of historic wooden architecture. Full article

Phi Man Long Long Rak Cave, located in Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand, is a prehistoric burial site containing ancient wooden coffins that have undergone biodeterioration, likely due to fungal activity. Both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches were employed to characterize fungal communities and assess their roles in wood degradation. Culture-dependent analysis identified five Aspergillus isolates from the wooden coffins, most of which produced cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes; some isolates also produced organic acids, indicating significant degradative potential. Culture-independent analysis revealed a community dominated by Aspergillus, together with additional taxa such as Penicillium and Ceriporia that were not detected by cultivation, highlighting greater community diversity and demonstrating the complementarity of the two methods. Functional prediction indicated a predominance of saprotrophic fungi. The presence of shared dominant taxa between soil and coffin-associated substrates suggests ecological connectivity at the soil–coffin interface, although the direction of dispersal cannot be determined from the present data. All tested fungicides inhibited fungal growth, with the highest efficacy observed in the formulation containing the highest proportion of active components. Taken together, these findings provide insights into fungal biodeterioration processes and inform conservation strategies. Full article

Dajue Temple, a representative ancient architectural heritage in North China, houses numerous lacquered wooden components of exceptional historical and artistic value. Prolonged environmental exposure causes severe dark discoloration and black spotting on lacquer surfaces, threatening their structural integrity. This first investigation into the damage identifies the spots as microbial in origin, with Cladosporium spp. as the primary agent driving deterioration and possessing wood-degrading capabilities. Antifungal tests show that thymol, clove essential oil, and nano-silver gel are all effective inhibitors. We proposed targeted, relic-friendly microbial control strategies tailored for ancient lacquered wooden components. These findings provided scientific guidance for the sustainable conservation and restoration of lacquered architectural elements in historic temples and comparable cultural heritage sites. In future work, environmental monitoring and the biocides’ compatibility should be involved, which will help to clarify microbe–environment interactions, enable early warning of biodeterioration risks and explore the wood-friendly biocides. Full article

Cocoa fermentation is a key post-harvest process that determines the chemical composition and functional quality of cocoa beans. This study evaluated the effect of enzyme-assisted fermentation, using bromelain and laccase, on the phenolic compounds, methylxanthines and antioxidant capacity of CCN-51 cocoa beans from northern Peru. Fresh cocoa beans were fermented in wooden boxes under ambient conditions with different enzymatic treatments based on a factorial design. Samples were collected at 0, 2, 4 and 6 days of fermentation to determine total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP), and the concentrations of theobromine, caffeine, catechin and epicatechin by UHPLC-MS. Significant changes in phenolic composition and antioxidant activity were observed during fermentation (p < 0.05), with higher values in enzyme-treated samples, particularly at day 4. Principal component analysis indicated that phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were the main variables responsible for sample differentiation. Response surface methodology showed that bromelain had the strongest influence on most responses. Optimization using a desirability function predicted an optimal enzymatic condition of 52.19 g of bromelain and 18 g of laccase per 5 kg of cocoa beans to maximize bioactive compounds. These findings highlight that enzyme-assisted fermentation is a promising strategy to enhance cocoa functional quality. Full article

Scarce global resources and reliance on non-renewable materials demand ecological, technology-integrated solutions. In Brazil, abundant wood resources remain underused in architectural education and practice. Introducing skills in curricula is essential for change and future adoption. This study developed a computational and digital fabrication methodology to rethink wood, exploring collaborative robotic assembly to build an embodied understanding of construction constraints. The Wood Innovation for Architecture in Brazil (WI-FAB) unites LAMO UFRJ and SDU CREATE robotics expertise and frames a pedagogical experiment in sustainable wood-structure design. The semester-long course tested whether the design framework could link computation, material behaviour, and assembly constraints as a pedagogical tool; the intensive workshop investigated how robotic assembly can enhance physical–digital workflows and inform future integration. The research-through-teaching methodology consisted of three phases: preliminary research, course testing, and a robotics workshop testing assembly workflows. Preliminary research developed a pedagogical framework comprising a kit of parts, joint types and string grammars tested within the semester-long course to support parametric rules and assembly sequencing. Participants assembled component “letters” that combined into “words” and then into “phrases”, developing computational and constructional understanding and converting parametric rules into tangible prototypes through iterative design-build-test cycles. Key outcomes include validation of parametric assembly rules through string grammars in the course; analysis of the robotics workshop applied four criteria (Assembly Movement; Component Geometry and Dimensions; Component Number and Slot Number; Complexity and Assembly Time) to evaluate assembly performance and workflow integration. Robotics stimulated physical–digital loops, accelerating design-to-assembly learning and informing full-scale developments. WI-FAB promotes reversible assembly, material reuse and circular-economy principles and contributes to the development of the forthcoming Sabiá parametric plugin for wooden joint design. Full article

Cracks and holes are commonly found in wooden components, and ancient Chinese wooden buildings, represented by the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, demonstrate the ability to work with defects. This study systematically investigated the effects of longitudinal cracks and circular holes on the load-bearing capacity of wooden beams through four-point bending experiments on 1580 specimens. The study focuses on load-bearing capacity as the core indicator and provides calculation formulas for the section weakening coefficient and damage tolerance coefficient to quantitatively evaluate the impact of defects. Research has found that the harmfulness of a defect strongly depends on its position within the wooden beam. In the horizontal direction, when the longitudinal crack is located in the pure bending section of the wooden beam, it has little effect on the load-bearing capacity of the wooden beam. Once it deviates to the transverse bending section, the load-bearing capacity of the wooden beam significantly decreases. The hole is most dangerous when it is located in the horizontal center of the wooden beam, and it is also dangerous when it is near the loading point. In the vertical direction, the crack has the greatest impact on the load-bearing capacity of the wooden beam when it is located in the middle-height layer or its vicinity, while its impact decreases when it is close to the top and bottom surfaces of the wooden beam. Holes have the least impact when approaching the middle-height layer, which is different from the impact pattern of cracks. In addition, the hazard increases when the hole is located in the tension zone of the wooden beam, and decreases when it is located in the compression zone. The anisotropy and fiber structure of wood are the microscopic basis for the damage-tolerance mechanical behavior of timber beams. Full article

Accurate wood identification is fundamental to any study, conservation, or restoration activity involving cultural heritage objects, including musical instruments. Here, we apply WoodScope, a structured, multi-scale and minimally invasive workflow for wood identification, to three traditional Japanese chord instruments, showing how a systematic sequence of visual, macroscopic, and microscopic observations maximizes diagnostic accuracy while safeguarding object integrity. The results show that out of 39 wooden parts analysed, 38 were identified non-invasively. In one case, targeted micro-sampling was performed, based on macroscopic observation, to obtain additional information. Overall, our results confirm that most instrument components can be reliably identified at the genus level or, when diagnostic characters are insufficient, to broader anatomical groups, without the need for destructive sampling. Our study demonstrates the efficacy of the WoodScope approach to optimise wood identification outcomes while preserving the object’s integrity and confining micro-targeted sampling to instances where microscopic anatomical characters are indispensable for reliable taxonomic identification and cannot be evaluated non-invasively. Full article

Three painted valuable wood sculptures from conventual collections in Apulia (Southern Italy), made between the beginning of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century, were studied to shed light on the pictorial materials and techniques of the Neapolitan Baroque sculpture in Southern Italy. A multi-analytical approach was implemented using integrated micro-invasive techniques, including polarized light microscopy (PLM) in ultraviolet (UV) and visible (VIS) light, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and pyrolysis–gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (Py-GC/HRMS). The stratigraphic sequences were microscopically identified, and the pictorial layers were discriminated on the basis of optical features, elemental compositions, and mapping. Organic components were detected by FTIR as lipids and proteinaceous compounds for binders, while terpenic resins were detected as varnishes. Accordingly, PY-GC/HRMS identified siccative oils, animal glue, egg, and colophony. The results allowed the identification of the painting techniques used for the pictorial films and the ground preparation layers and supported the distinction between original and repainting layers. The results of this multi-analytical approach provide insights into Baroque wooden sculpture in Southern Italy and offers information to support restorers in conservation works. Full article

Fire resistance is a critical aspect of passive fire protection, particularly in door systems that must maintain integrity under extreme conditions. This paper presents the thermal and structural performance of a single-leaf sandwich fire door, with the goal of improving its fire resistance through numerical optimization. An initial numerical assessment identified the door frame as the thermally weakest component, guiding the subsequent optimization process. Then, a one-way coupled transient thermal–structural Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis was performed using Ansys Mechanical to evaluate the influence of frame material, frame geometry, and insulation type and placement on the door frame assembly when exposed to fire. Results show that the frame material plays a decisive role, where aluminum alloys performed poorly, whereas wooden frames significantly reduced temperatures in both the door and frame by approximately 55% relative to the original configuration. Additional improvements were achieved by increasing frame thickness and placing rock wool within the thermal break, resulting in temperature reductions of 58.3% in the door and 57.3% in the frame. However, these thermal improvements had a limited impact on structural deformation, which remained nearly unchanged. Full article

Wooden cultural relics, as significant components of historical and cultural heritage, are persistently threatened by deterioration due to biological, environmental, and chemical factors. Addressing these issues is crucial not only for the conservation of cultural heritage but also for ensuring its sustainable transmission to future generations. This review systematically examines international research on the degradation and preservation of wooden cultural relics, outlining the temporal evolution, key contributing nations and research groups, major thematic focuses, and their interrelationships. We comprehensively summarize the mechanisms underlying wood degradation—including microbial attack, chemical degradation, and stress-induced deformation—and evaluate advanced techniques for detecting and assessing deterioration. Furthermore, we analyze the critical environmental and material variables that influence degradation rates. Building on this foundation, the paper surveys current mainstream conservation methodologies, such as physical and chemical reinforcement, desiccation, and drying treatments. Special emphasis is placed on emerging strategies that leverage novel materials and technologies, for instance, biomimetic hydrophobic coatings to prevent liquid water penetration and nanomaterial-based approaches for multifunctional surface treatment. Finally, we discuss persistent challenges and prospective research directions in the field, aiming to inform future scientific studies and advance practical conservation efforts for wooden cultural heritage. Full article

Wood-based materials in the form of wood veneer composites (WVCs) possess a high lightweight construction potential for load-bearing applications in mechanical engineering due to their high strength properties combined with low density. However, in order to substitute energy-intensive metallic construction materials (such as steel or aluminum), additional structural space is required to compensate for the comparatively low stiffness by means of the area moment of inertia. Under bending loads, an increase in cross-sectional height at a constant span length leads to elevated shear stresses. Owing to the low shear strength and stiffness of wood-based materials, the influence of shear stresses must be considered in both the design of wooden components and in material testing. Current standards for determining the bending properties of wood-based materials only describe methods for assessing pure bending behavior, without accounting for shear effects. The present contribution introduces a method for determining both bending and shear properties of WVC using the three-point bending test. This approach allows for the derivation of bending and shear modulus values through an analytical model based on Timoshenko beam theory by testing various span-to-height ratios. These modulus values represent material constants and enable the numerical design of wooden components for arbitrary geometric parameters. Full article

The terraced fields of Samaba in Honghe County are one of the key protected sites within the globally important agricultural heritage systems. This study focuses on the traditional courtyard dwellings of the Hani people in this area, proposing that their architectural practices reflect a profound and sustainable adaptation to the local environment and socio-agricultural systems. Through field investigations, architectural surveys, and in-depth interviews with Hani Bema (ritual specialists), artisans, and residents, this research analyzes the settlement characteristics and distribution of the area, the spatial features of traditional Hani courtyard dwellings, three typical floor plans, and the construction techniques of key components such as wooden structures, earthen walls, and roofs. The findings indicate that the use of local materials (e.g., wood, raw earth, stone) and their specific construction methods are inherently responsive to the regional climate, forming a sustainable residential model that spans material acquisition, construction, and maintenance. Crucially, the study reveals a strong isomorphic relationship between the material and energy cycles involved in Hani settlement construction and those of terrace farming activities. We argue that the sustainability of villages and architecture is essential for the sustainability of the entire terrace agricultural ecosystem. By elucidating the wisdom of Hani dwellings in terms of materials, construction, and maintenance, this study provides significant insights for discussions on sustainable vernacular architecture and offers valuable perspectives for its green renewal and contemporary adaptation. Full article