Project Leader: Brian Brashaw The objective is to identify, conduct and implement lean manufacturing research concepts for use by forest harvesting and wood products manufacturers.
Project Leader: Brian Brashaw The objective of this project is to develop a control and monitoring system capable of being permanently mounted to two timber bridges in northeastern Minnesota. This system will be designed to be robust to withstand in-service temperature and moisture conditions, and durable to withstand repeated vibration of the bridge by vehicular traffic and through intended forced vibration testing. The second objective is to mount the system to these bridges and conduct bimonthly assessments to understand the effect of environmental conditions on the vibration response of the bridge and as a long term monitoring system. Baseline and bimonthly measurements of the bridge superstructure's modal parameters will be collected using forced-vibration techniques for 12 months from the time of installation and then monthly for another 12 months.
Project Leader: Brian Brashaw The objective of this project is to conduct a thorough review of technologies and inspection techniques for residential wood-framed wall systems to assess the presence of excess moisture leading to mold and fungal growth affecting the structural integrity and health of homes.
Project Leader: Paick Donahue The objective of this project is to complete development of a prototype of an engineered, ready-to-assemble residential building/structure developed by the NRRI UMD. This housing technology seamlines wood-frame construction methods. The resulting demonstration will be an inhabi dwelling that the NRRI will use to highlight and disseminate this technology.
Project Leader: Pavel Krasutsky The objective of this project is to develop value-added utilization options for hardwood black liquor, soap fraction, and tall oil produced from northern U.S. and Canadian paper mills.
Project Leader: Bill Berguson The objective of this project is to develop tools to identify economically-harves brush lands in Minnesota as a source of woody biomass for energy.