Publications

Poplar wood is a light, soft, and fast-growing timber from a hardwood species, characteristics that make it suitable for several applications. This study focused on the mechanical characterization of Portuguese poplar species, namely white poplar (Populus Alba) and black poplar (P. nigra), aiming for its structural use. Therefore, a sample of lamellae was assessed to determine its density and dynamic modulus of elasticity, using a non-destructive device, based on longitudinal vibrations. Clear wood specimens were obtained from a set of lamellae to perform tension and compression parallel-to-grain tests. These tests were used to determine the moduli of elasticity in tension and compression and the tensile and compressive strengths and strains. Also, typical stress-strain curves were identified for the sample studied. The results stressed the potential for structural applications of Portuguese poplar.

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Four types of sandwich panels with multilayered designs were produced using wood veneer of Aleppo pine as face and inner sheets, and cork agglomerate as core,intended for use in construction as panelling or partition walls in interior applications. These multilayered sandwich panels were characterized regarding static hardnessand dimensional stability when facing changes in relative humidity and when subjected to a deformation. The panels showed a considerable increase in dimensional stability and shear strength with the increase of the number oflayers. The results suggest that the correct design choice, for example number of inner wood sheets and thickness of cork core layers, allows these sandwich panels to be used as non-structural construction elements such as partition walls.

Changes in flagellate protist communities of subterranean termite Reticulitermes gras-sei across different locations were evaluated following four predictions: (i) Rural endemic (Portugal mainland) termite populations will exhibit high diversity of symbionts; (ii) invasive urban populations (Horta city, Faial island, Azores), on the contrary, will exhibit lower diversity of symbionts, showing high similarity of symbiont assemblages through environmental filtering; (iii) recent historical colonization of isolated regions

This paper describes the use of non-destructive methods to assess the mechanical properties of structural glued laminated timber made from poplar. The longitudinal vibration method and transformed section method were considered. Full-scale tests were also performed to determine the most relevant mechanical properties of 18 beams, namely modulus of elasticity and bending strength. In addition, the bonding performance of each beam was checked by delamination and shear strength tests. Detailed analysis of the results was performed and combined with Levene's and Tukey's tests. The accuracy of the two non-destructive test methods was evaluated by linear regression analysis. The transformed section method showed stronger correlations with modulus of elasticity and shear strength. Slightly lower values were presented by the longitudinal vibration method. A strength class of GL24c can be assigned for glued laminated poplar made with timber with lower properties at the inner lamellas.

Pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) wood samples were subjected to a combined treatment by densification and heat treatment. Samples were densified before and after heat treatment. The heat treatment was made inside an oven at 190ºC during 2 to 6 h and wood densification was made in a hot press at around 48 bar pressure and temperatures between 160ºC and 200ºC for 30 min. Compression-set, compression-set recovery after three cycles of water soaking followed by oven drying, density, hardness, bending strength and stiffness and durability against subterranean termites were determined after the treatment. Results show that densification increases density, hardness, bending strength, stiffness and durability against termites. Heat treatment applied after the densification is more effective in reducing compression-set recovery than if applied before.

The ability of subterranean termites to digest lignocellulose relies not onlyon their digestive tract physiology, but also on the symbiotic relationshipsestablished with flagellate protists and bacteria. The objective of this workwas to test the possible effect of different cellulose-based diets on the communitystructure (species richness and other diversity metrics) of the flagellateprotists of the subterranean termite Reticulitermes grassei. Termitesbelonging to the same colony were subjected to six different diets (naturaldiet, maritime pine wood, European beech, thermally modified Europeanbeech, cellulose powder and starvation), and their flagellate protist communitywas evaluated after the trials.All non-treated sound woods produced similar flagellate protist communitiesthat were more diverse and of high evenness (low dominance).On the contrary, flagellate protist communities from cellulose-fed termitesand starving termites were considered to be significantly different from allnon-treated woods; they were less diverse and some morphotypes becamedominant as a consequence of flagellate protist communities having sufferedmajor adaptations to these diets. The flagellate protist communitiesof untreated beech and thermally modified beech-fed termites were consideredto be significantly different in terms of abundance and morphotypediversity. This may be caused by a decrease in lignocellulose qualityavailable for termites and from an interference of thermally treated woodwith the chemical stability of the termite hindgut.Our study suggests that as a consequence of the strong division oflabour among these protists to accomplish the intricate process of lignocellulosedigestion, termite symbiotic flagellate protist communities are adynamic assemblage able to adapt to different conditions and diets. Thisstudy is important for the community-level alteration approach, and it isthe first study to investigate the effects of thermally modified wood on theflagellate protist communities of subterranean termites.

Serviceability limit states (related to deformation) rather than ultimate limit states (related to collapse)are often the reason for the need to assess existing timber structures. Prediction of timber members

Monitoring and evaluation of glued laminated timber structures in service is essential to warrant its integrity, where non-destructive techniques play an important role. This paper describes the results obtained on glued laminated timber beams of maritime pine, with and without preservative treatment, and of spruce, exposed to naturaloutdoor environment as well as to artificial weathering. The assessment of glue lines

This paper presents work carried out with the aim of characterizing the mechanical behavior and developing visual and machine strength grading systems for Portuguese maritime pine roundwood for structural applications. Two samples of forty maritime pine logs each were collected, one in a northern region of Portugal and another in an interior central region. After drying, the logs were visually graded andsubjected to nondestructive tests, using vibration and ultrasounds, for determination of dynamic modulus of elasticity. The logs were then subjected to destructive tests for determining bending and compression strength and bending modulus of elasticity. These results were analyzed in order to identify the features to be considered in the strength grading process. From this analysis, a proposal was developed tovisually grade Portuguese maritime pine roundwood in two strength grades. According to the European strength class standard for solid timber, the upper grade has similar mechanical properties to the C50 class, whereas the lower grade is similar to the C35. The machine grading showed good potential as a result of the good correlation presented between the dynamic modulus of elasticity and the mechanical properties. However, the ultrasounds showed slightly better correlation than the vibration method, whereas the last one is more practical.

Adjustable telescopic steel props are one of the most common temporary structural elements used in the construction industry, namely to support the formwork during the building, rehabilitation or retrofit of permanent structures. This paper presents different approaches concerning the numerical modelling of the structural response of axially compressed props

O carvalho-português (Quercus faginea Lam.) é uma espécie autóctone, cuja madeira actualmente nãoé utilizada e sobre a qual pouco se sabe. No entanto, dado que a sua madeira foi outrora utilizada na construçãode naus e de caravelas, é de crer que tenha um potencial elevado para a produção de produtos nobres, como é ocaso dos pavimentos.Com o objectivo de averiguar o potencial tecnológico da madeira de Carvalho português para revestimento desuperfícies, foi realizada a caracterização das suas propriedades físico-mecânicas e avaliada a sua durabilidadenatural face a térmitas subterrâneas, utilizando metodologias normalizadas. Foram utilizadas dez árvoresprovenientes de duas regiões de Trás-os-Montes. Os resultados mostraram que a madeira de Q. faginea é dedureza muito alta para o cerne (101 N/mm2) e possui resistência fraca quanto à tensão de ruptura à flexão estática(99 N/mm2) e média quanto à compressão (47 N/mm2) para uma massa volúmica média de 870 kg/m3.De modo a avaliar o comportamento em produtos compósitos, produziram-se também 20 peças com duasespessuras de madeira de Carvalho, coladas a madeira de Espruce (Picea abies H. Karsten), que foramsubmetidas a uma carga estática de 1kN. Os resultados demonstram que a dureza do pavimento diminui com aredução da espessura da lâmina de carvalho.

This paper presents the initial laboratory work developed with the aim of consolidating timber that has beensubjected to the action of rot fungi, by impregnation with polymeric products. This technique has been largelyused in restoration of works of art but not so much in civil engineering.Indeed, structural wooden elements in buildings are often subjected to degradation by rot fungi due to theaccidental presence of water from various causes such as deficiencies in plumbing, broken tiles, clogging ofguttering or degradation of exterior masonry. In these situations the question arises about which repair action totake: replace the whole element? Replace only the damaged part by inserting prosthesis? Maintain the damagedelement, strengthening or consolidating it? The option of maintaining in the building the original (even thoughdeteriorated) timber has been gaining more and more importance, because the loss of the element contributes tothe loss of its historical identity. Consolidation by impregnation falls within this context, thus justifying deeperstudies.The laboratorial work, developed using degraded maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) specimens, is presented. Thetest-specimens were prepared in the laboratory, to reach different decay levels by varying the exposure time tobrown-rot fungi (Coniophora puteana). Three commercial low-viscosity products, specific for the impregnationof timber deteriorated by rot fungi, were tested: two epoxy-based and one acrylic. The efficiency of theseproducts was assessed through compression tests parallel to the grain and hardness tests, involving bothimpregnated and non impregnated wood. Their influence, when applied to degraded timber, on its waterabsorption behavior was also tested.

Whilst previous wood modification conferences have dealt with technological advances,there has been limited consideration of market potential. Given the increasing levels ofcommercialisation, this is now being considered by several groups. There is a need tocritically assess why we are trying to develop new modification technologies, and whatbenefits can be gained from using those already in the marketplace. These benefits canvary from country to country, even in some cases within regions in a country. Thispaper will review many of the key parameters necessary for converting a good idea (inthis case a wood modification process) to a commercial reality, including: Logistics

A verificação da resistência, em regime elástico, de secções em I submetidas a um esforço normal e a flexão desviada é habitualmente realizada através de equações lineares simplificadas que podem conduzir, nalguns casos, a resultados bastante conservativos. O presente trabalho apresenta a dedução de um critério alternativo para o cálculo do estado limite elástico destas secções, através da integração de uma distribuição de tensões plana na secção transversal. O critério não linear obtido pode ser escrito de forma idêntica à das expressões regulamentares existentes, incluindo ainda dois factores adicionais que permitem tomar em consideração a influência dos parâmetros geométricos que condicionam a resistência da secção.

Timber is one of the most used materials in the roofs and floors of monumental constructions in Portugal. Thesetimber elements are often visible, which allows easier identification of the timber species, characterization ofdetails, evaluation of deterioration and conservation.Complex timber structures, such as those belonging to the roofs of large monuments, are often not easy tounderstand in a expedite way. This complexity makes the field of conservation of historical timber structures notonly a challenge but also a field much in need of modern research.Load bearing timber structures are exposed during their life to some degradation factors which lead, in theabsence of appropriate maintenance interventions, to the loss of their structural integrity and serviceability.Often the intervention

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Joints in traditional timber structures usually present notches where stresses are transferred by compression and, to some extent, by friction between the contact surfaces. There are many structures still in service today which employ a wide range of traditional notched joints with and without different metal parts, some introduced during construction and others added later as reinforcement, which can be reduced to a few common typologies. These traditional timber connections, even without any strengthening device, usually exhibit some moment-resisting capability, but common design methods are mainly focused in the transmission of compression internal forces and do not account for the presence of metal parts. Thus the common employment of steel stirrups, internal bolts or clamping devices in traditional connections can have unexpected consequences in the global performance of timber a structure, because while enhancing the joints

Este trabalho aborda a substituição de rebites por parafusos injectados com resina em estruturas metálicas antigas rebitadas. Este tema tem ganho cada vez mais relevância dado que existem várias estruturas metálicas antigas em funcionamento, algumas de grande utilidade, cujas condições de funcionamento actuais exigem a sua reabilitação e reforço. Um dos aspectos importantes a considerar neste tipo de intervenções é a substituição de rebites nas ligações rebitadas. A prática corrente em Portugal é a substituição de rebites por novos rebites, que, embora seja uma solução estruturalmente coerente, acarreta custos elevados e longos tempos de execução. Esta realidade leva a que seja necessário encontrar soluções alternativas.

Subterranean termites (Reticulitermes grassei) were surveyed over successiveseasons in a managed eucalyptus plantation in southeastern Portugal for 26months. Termite activity in seven diameter categories of lying dead wood wasinvestigated by a modified line intersection method (LIS). Each item sampled wasinspected and assessed for termite attack and for general (i.e. fungal) decay statususing standard protocols. Line intersection is quantitative to the extent that it canlink foraging and decay parameters to woody biovolume. It was found thattermites selected items with larger diameter, the observed trend showing anexponential character with greater termite attack as diameter increased. Attack bytermites was positively associated with prior decay by fungi. A clear positiverelationship was shown between rainfall and total woody biovolume containinglive termites, underlining the importance of moisture for termite activity. Subterraneantermites appeared to be important wood decomposers in the woodlandstudied, with an average of 30% of lying dead wood branches showing signs oftermite attack.

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O Museu da Academia das Ciências de Lisboa possui uma preciosa xiloteca assinada pelo Mestre dos marceneiros portugueses, José Aniceto Rapozo contendo 1213 amostras de madeiras do Brasil e 12 de outras origens. A sua importância no progresso do conhecimento dos recursos florestais do Brasil naviragem dos séculos dezoito e dezanove conduziu ao estudo em curso. Dada a devastação verificada em vastas áreas florestais brasileiras, surgem dificuldades por certas espécies poderem ter distribuiçãogeográfica diferente (com eventual extinção, geral ou localizada), por insuficiência do material de comparação, e por ambiguidade das designações comerciais.Foi possível identificar esta xiloteca como uma de quatro encomendadas a Aniceto Rapozo pelo Príncipe Regente. A análise das amostras de madeira e a informação documental mostram que a colecçãotem por base uma remessa de 5008 amostras de madeiras do Brasil enviada em 1784 para o Arsenal Real do Exército, em Lisboa, pelo Vice-Rei do Brasil, Luís de Vasconcellos e Souza.O valor científico do conjunto é evidenciado pela identificação botânica das espéciesrepresentadas. Na situação actual, a identificação das espécies florestais representadas na amostragem foiinteiramente conseguida em 14% dos casos, conseguida mas ainda por confirmar em 27%. Dado o carácter preliminar deste estudo, os seus resultados serão ulteriormente publicados com mais pormenor. Among the Lisbon Academy of Sciences Museum collection there is a valuable xylarium by theleading Portuguese master cabinet-maker José Aniceto Rapozo (1756-1824), comprising 1213 wood samples from Brazil plus 12 from elsewhere. This collection is most important since it allows us to improve the knowledge on Brazilian forest resources by the end of the eighteenth century and thebeginning of the next. This study aims to establish its historical framework and scientific value. Owing tooverexploitation and even devastation of very large forest areas in Brazil, difficulties for our study aroseeither as some species may have now a different geographical distribution (and eventually may have underwent local or general extinction), by lack of adequate comparison material, or because of ambiguityof the commercial names.Results so far obtained allowed us to recognize the xylarium as one of the four commanded Rapozo by the Regent Prince, later King João VI (1767-1826). Taking into account the wood samples analyses as well as bibliographic data it is possible to conclude that the collection was prepared from a set 3 of 5008 Brazilian wood samples sent to the Royal Arsenal in Lisbon in 1784 by the Brazil

This work collects information about laboratory tests to evaluate the properties of agro-industrial wastes used for thermal insulation building materials considering them individually and in composits. It focuses on bio-susceptibility, as one of the main aspects to consider for bio-based building products.

Innovation in structures and construction materials demands a more accurate performance analysis during the life cycle. In addition, climatic changes pose new challenges to civil infrastructures that were not so relevant in the past. In most cases, the traditional test methods cannot accurately assess the complex phenomena involved in durability. The modern and complex factors require a different approach to durability analysis. The purpose of this chapter is to present innovative durability tests on construction materials: wood; rammed earth, cob and unfired blocks; natural stone; bituminous binders and mixtures; and Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP) to concrete bonded connections. Most of these tests concern the accelerated simulation of the main phenomena involved in durability performance

Laboratory tests were carried out to define production parameters of innovative eco-efficient composites made up of hazelnut shells as aggregate and a sodium silicate solution as adhesive. The aim was to maximize the content of bio-aggregates and minimize the amount of adhesive, guaranteeing the feasibility of producing samples. Therefore, after preliminary testing, the percentages of hazelnut shells and the sodium silicate solution were kept constant: 70% and 30% of the total volume, respectively. However, the characteristics of the considered composites did not allow the production of uniform samples. The sodium silicate solution was not rapidly absorbed by the bio-aggregates; during the drying process, it was deposited on the bottom side of the samples. The uniformity of the samples is required to guarantee a correct evaluation of their performance and future homogeneous panels. Hence, different production parameters were investigated, such as drying at T

The durability of construction materials is a key concern and can be related to different actions such as weathering conditions outdoors enhanced by climatic change, chemical and biological attack, abrasion, and other conditions of service over time. Frequently, several actions develop simultaneously, making it difficult to reproduce in situ conditions in laboratory. Furthermore, testing to assess durability depends largely on the nature of the material itself or on the way it has been assembled with other materials. The ageing techniques to assess long-term durability performance of construction materials are based on accelerated durability tests, which include, for example, thermal stress, freeze

This paper presents an overview of research carried out to assess the bonding suitability of Portuguese timbers.Most work developed in the last decades has focused Maritime pine timber, due to its traditional use in building construction, good mechanical properties and availability. Untreated, as well as preservative treated Maritime pine have been studied, as its impregnability allows deep treatment suitable for applications in Use Classes 3 and 4.Recent results on bonding preservative treated Maritime pine wood are discussed.Preliminary results regarding other species that are becoming available in the Portuguese market are also presented, as an attempt to reduce pressure on Maritime pine timber as well as to seek more valuable alternatives for their traditional uses.

No presente trabalho apresentam-se os resultados mais relevantes obtidos num programa experimental desenvolvido no LNEC com o objetivo de caracterizar a aderência dos varões nervurados do tipo A500NR SD existentes no mercado, fundamentalmente para melhorar a modelação do comportamento dos elementos de betão armado de zonas críticas de estruturas inseridas em zonas sísmicas.O programa experimental desenvolvido pretende simular as condições de aderência existentes num varão horizontal de uma ligação viga-pilar e tem como principais variáveis varões de dois diâmetros frequentemente utilizados (16 e 25 mm), dois níveis diferentes de área relativa das nervuras (A e B) e duas classes de betão (C1 e C2), ambos representativos do betão utilizado nas construções mais relevantes.Os resultados obtidos quer nos ensaios monotónicos quer nos ensaios cíclicos apontam para um decréscimo da tensão de aderência com o aumento do diâmetro da ordem dos 10%. O aumento da área relativa das nervuras transversais traduz-se num incremento da tensão máxima de aderência da ordem dos 15%, com uma redução do deslizamento que ronda os 15%. Nesse sentido, este estudo propôs que, no caso dos varões com maior área relativa das nervuras, a tensão de aderência máxima possa variar entre 2,35 e 2,65 vezes a raiz quadrada da resistência do betão à compressão e que o patamar onde a tensão de aderência é máxima se situe entre 0,5 e 1,5 mm de deslizamento.Explorou-se também o fenómeno da entrada em cedência da armadura tendo-se concluído que, em provetes que pretendem simular as condições de aderência existentes num varão horizontal de uma ligação viga-pilar, a entrada em cedência da armadura conduz a uma redução da tensão de aderência máxima inferior a 10%, quer regime monotónico quer em regime cíclico.

O presente trabalho de investigação refere-se à conservação de elementos estruturais de madeira medianamente degradados por fungos em edifícios antigos. Propõe-se estudar a compatibilidade entre produtos de tratamento e de consolidação por impregnação, aplicados sequencialmente. A avaliação do processo foi realizada maioritariamente em laboratório e na óptica do desempenho mecânico conjunto da madeira e produtos aplicados, por intermédio de ensaios físico-mecânicos destrutivos e não destrutivos e também por ensaios mecânicos não destrutivos realizados in situ. Foram utilizados produtos comerciais, aplicando-os às espécies de madeira correntemente encontradas nos edifícios antigos da zona de Lisboa: Pinho bravo e Casquinha. Procedeu-se à avaliação mecânica de madeira nova e antiga, em estado são e degradado; ao desenvolvimento de um método de medição da profundidade de penetração de produtos de tratamento; à avaliação da capacidade consolidante de madeira degradada por produtos poliméricos fluidos e à avaliação da sua actuação conjunta, estudada com e sem envelhecimento artificial. Os resultados obtidos indicaram significativos aumentos de capacidade mecânica da madeira degradada, quando submetida a tratamento e consolidação Este trabalho desenvolve, assim, uma proposta de solução para a madeira que não se encontra sã, mas que ainda possui capacidade resistente, não necessitando, por isso, de ser removida. O processo de tratamento e consolidação promove resistência aos agentes biológicos e, simultaneamente, recuperação de alguma resistência mecânica da madeira, conferindo-lhe capacidade para continuar em serviço.

Subterranean termites from the genus Reticulitermes are an important pest ofwood in service throughout southern Europe and elsewhere. For effective termitecontrol with long term protection but minimal environmental damage, newintegrated approaches to termite management are needed. Baiting-based systemsseem to be promising non-traditional methods for termite control, targeting thecolony as a whole. However, control through baiting is only feasible when it isknown that the toxicant can be transferred to all the colonies foraging on theinfested area and also throughout each individual colony. Accordingly, the workdescribed is specifically designed to achieve a better understanding of thedistribution and delimitation of colonies within a population of Reticulitermes,with parallel insights into foraging behaviour and colony organization.Initially, the species/subspecies spectrum present within the notionalReticulitermes group in Portugal was reassessed. It was shown that Reticulitermesgrassei is the only species encountered. Foraging activity was then assessed in anexperimental woodland site over two successive annual cycles, both by thesampling of natural lying dead wood and by a standard baiting grid. R. grasseiseem to select wood with larger diameter, with an apparent preference for materialalready decayed by fungi. Both termite and fungal attack on wood seems to bepromoted by higher moisture levels, such as prevail in larger litter items andduring seasonal rains. Termites were unable to detect and direct their foragingtowards sound wood in laboratory conditions, suggesting that the network ofinfochemical signals is more complex than just volatiles emanating from soundwood. Mark-release-recapture (MRR) was used to delineate foraging groups,which were then allocated to their parent colonies by the use of microsatellitemarkers. The results suggest that resource sharing is a facultative behaviour,specifically when food is not a limiting factor for colony development. Theimplications of all these findings for bait technology and protocols are discussed,with reference to the local population ecology of Reticulitermes.

The project CircularBuild -

Relatório final do projeto PTDC/ECM/099121/2008

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de versão portuguesa da Norma Europeia EN 10002-2, e insere-se numa série de estudos programados pelo autor, enquanto coordenador da normalização nacional no domínio dos ensaios mecânicos, físicos e não-destrutivos de materiais metálicos.O texto do projecto de norma apresentado consiste na versão final de uma proposta redigida pelo autor, na sequência dos estudos efectuados ao nível da Comissão Técnica de Normalização competente.

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de versão portuguesa da Norma Europeia EN 10002-5, e insere-se numa série de estudos programados pelo autor, enquanto coordenador da normalização nacional no domínio dos ensaios mecânicos, físicos e não-destrutivos de materiais metálicos.O texto do projecto de revisão apresentado consiste na versão final de uma proposta redigida pelo autor, na sequência dos estudos efectuados ao nível da Comissão Técnica de Normalização competente.

O presente relatório descreve a participação do LNEC no programa europeu de intercomparação de calibrações de forças

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de revisão da Norma Portuguesa NP 850 (1985)

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de revisão da Norma Portuguesa NP 386 (1965)

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de revisão das Normas Portuguesas NP 449 (1966)

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de revisão da Norma Portuguesa NP 450 (1966)

O presente trabalho apresenta um projecto de Norma Portuguesa relativo ao ensaio de dilatação de anéis de tubos metálicos, e insere-se numa série de estudos programados pelo autor, enquanto coordenador da normalização nacional no domínio dos ensaios mecânicos, físicos e não-destrutivos de materiais metálicos, com a finalidade de preencher lacunas da Normalização Portuguesa neste domínio que a indústria e as instituições ligadas ao controlo da qualidade considerem ser mais urgente colmatar.O texto apresentado consiste na versão final de uma proposta redigida pelo autor, na sequência dos estudos efectuados ao nível da Comissão Técnica de Normalização competente.

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