Objective The project has the following goals: The mechanical and physical properties of densified veneer wood (dvw) made of poplar and maritime pine will be investigated and compared with softwood. The ability of the dvw to withstand concentrated loads will be investigated as to satisfy the demands for structural applications. Densified veneer wood (dvw) has the po tential ability of being a realistic a lternative for tropical wood and with preservative treated wood. Improvement of the mechanical and physical proper ties of dvw can be achieved by better grading which is necessary for various structural and non-structural applica tions. The introduction in the EC of a reliable NDT machine grading method r esult in a better grading of veneer, t he raw material of the densified venee r wood. This grading method could well become a standard grading method in t he EC as in the USA, although the EC w ood species are different. The market replacement ability of the dvw for tro pical and with preservative treated wo od is in agreement with EC-policies. B y gluing dvw to timber a composite is created which can have many advantages and therefore can improve market pros pects and stimulate the competitivenes s of timber. In short the next subject s will be covered: a) - As main item: Introduction of a reliable NDT-machine grade method for veneer,as in the EC only visual methods are being used. Th e machine grade settings are related t o a strength class segregation of the dvw which will be verified by mechanic al and physical tests. Dvw is obtained by lamination and compression of cros swise layered graded veneer sheets. b) - Veneer of low quality, beech, pop lar and maritiem pine will be utilised for the production of dvw. Resistance against moisture, fungal and beetles is part of the program. c) - The dvw will be glued to timber i n order to reinforce or to protect the wood against mechanical and/or biolog ical attack. The dimensional stability of this comp osite will improve. d) - Reinforcement by dvw of the timbe r of joints open new possibilities for structural application. Combined with a tube fastener the strength stiffnes s and ductility properties will increa se considerable. This will result in e conomic more competitive timber struct ures with improved market penetration capabilities. In the near future Euroc ode 8 regulations will discourage the use of wood in seismic zones because o f the lack of ductility of present tim ber joints. As tentative results show this dvw reinforced joint is very prom issing in satisfying Eurocode 8 requir ements. The production proces of densified ven eer wood is known for more than 100 ye ars and consists of compression of pil es of veneer sheets at a temperature o f about 120C. This pressure closes the hollow space of the wood fibre. When the wood fibre is closed the temperatu re is decreased rapidly leading to pet rification of the cell walls which lea d to the dimensional stabilisation of the compressed wood. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry Programme(s) FP2-FOREST - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the fields of raw materials and recycling - Renewable raw materials: Forestry and wood products (including cork) -, 1990-1992 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Technische Universiteit Delft EU contribution No data Address 1,Stevinweg 1 2628 BL DELFT Netherlands See on map Total cost No data Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all De Groots Gelijmde Houtconstructies BV Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 77,Chrchillstraat 7680 AA Vroomshoop See on map Total cost No data Holzbau SpA Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Ammon 12 39042 Bolzano - Brixen See on map Total cost No data LABORATORIO NACIONAL DE ENGENHARIA CIVIL Portugal EU contribution No data Address 101,Avenida do Brasil 101 1700-066 LISBOA See on map Total cost No data Lignostone Ter Apel BV Netherlands EU contribution No data Address 3,Mercuriusweg 9561 AL Ter Apel See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF FLORENCE Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Santa Marta 3 50139 FIRENZE See on map Total cost No data University of Brighton United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Lewes Road BN2 4GJ Brighton See on map Total cost No data Universität Karlsruhe (Technische Hochschule) Germany EU contribution No data Address Kaiserstraße 12 76131 Karlsruhe See on map Total cost No data