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 projects current report, an arrow will take you to a projects home page)

Epicurean Cutting Surfaces

Wood Utilization Research
To help the forest products sector develop new products, new technologies, and new business systems to position Minnesota as a continued leader in wood products manufacturing and renewable energy.
Evaulation and Demonstration of Nondestructive Assessment Technologies for Sorting Eastern Hardwoods

Goodwill Industries, Inc. - NRRI Product Development Fund
To develop and exploit a local market outlet for compacted mattress innersprings recovered from mattresses.
Mat Inc. - NRRI Product Development Fund
To develop sustainable market outlets for reclaimed mattress cotton.
Development of Flexural Vibration Inspection Equipment, Techniques to Assess Structural Health of Rural Bridge Systems: Phase II
The objective of this project will be to conduct vibration testing of dowel laminated timber bridge systems to better understand the potential for using vibration testing to evaluate the structural health and condition of bridges in Minnesota. A secondary objective is to improve and automate the vibration testing system.
Corn Stover Agglomerates for Oil Sorbency Applications
This project seeks to identify a reactive two-part binding and agglomeration system capable of transforming delicate corn stover fibers into highly absorptive, free-flowing, porous granulates uniquely capable of absorbing a wide variety of hydrocarbon and water based fluids.
Field Logic - NRRI Product Development Fund
To develop an engineered archery target from recycled foam and textile materials.
Total Productive Maintenance for the Wood Products Industry
Develop customized total productive maintenance programs for wood products manufacturers through development of short courses and in-plant demonstration projects. A secondary objective is to use web-based video conferencing to conduct total productive maintenance training for regional groups of manufacturers as a means of reducing travel costs for employees and instructors.
Heat Treatment of Firewood - Meeting the Phytosanitary Requirements
The purpose of this project is to transfer the knowledge and most advanced heat treating technology to field application through demonstration projects and via on-site and web-based training workshops.