Brian Brashaw, Program Director,

Position and Focus

Brian Brashaw is the director of the Wood Materials and Manufacturing Program within the Forestry/Forest Products Division of the Center for Applied Research and Technology Development. His project team emphasizes product development or improvement, process or technology development and technology transfer leading to economic development. Clients and cooperators include regional, national and international wood products manufacturers, government agencies and public universities.

As project leader, Brian is responsible for the following research areas:

• Nondestructive Evaluation of Wood Materials and Structures
• Engineered Wood Products (LVL, I-joists, trusses)
• Secondary Wood Products Manufacturing
• Wood Materials Laminating (membrane pressing and flat panels).

Brian supervises NRRI's mechanical and physical properties testing laboratory and participates in the ASTM D7 Wood Committee.

Background

M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Washington State University, 1991
B.S. Forestry (Management Emphasis), University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 1989

Project list for Brian Brashaw :

(A link will go to the project's current report, an arrow will take you to a project's home page)

Integrated Acoustic Assessment Technologies for Optimal Wood Products and Wood Biomass Utilization
The objectives are to: (1) Develop economic assessment models that incorporate wood quality, carbon and bioenergy values along with end markets for use with acoustic-based nondestructive assessment technologies; (2) Identify implementation strategies and guidelines for use with standing trees, stems, and logs for regional application across the varied forest cover types; and (3) Develop a nondestructive approach to accurately determine wood density for individual species within a localized forest stand.

Corn Stover Absorbent Granules Phase II


Corn Stover Absorbent Granules Phase II


Evaluation and Demonstration of Nondestructive Assessment Technologies for Sorting Eastern Hardwoods
To evaluate several technologies including vibration, acoustic, tomography, thermography, and laser technologies for identifying critical material defects and for assessing potential product performance from hardwood materials prior to manufacturing into guitars and baseball bats, to assess the potential for these technologies to be used for other high value end products, and to identify commercial vendors that are capable of adapting equipment or developing new equipment.

Developing Thermal Verification Guidelines for Firewood
The objective of this project is to improve the current temperature monitoring process for heat treating firewood by developing the necessary background data that can be used to develop thermal verification guidelines that are primarily based on the kiln heating conditions to supplement the data from the firewood samples.

Top That! By Loni
The goal of this project is to provide training and hands-on production process improvements that allow Top That! to increase their production efficiency and reduce manufacturing waste, resulting in increased capacity and ability to service additional customers in 2011.

Grand Log Homes
To fully develop the Grand Log technology by developing the production process, producing enough product to complete performance testing, constructing a demonstration site, and producing trade show booth and sales samples, which will lead to the start-up of a manufacturing plant in northern Minnesota by the end of 2011.