Publicações

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.

N/A

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.

O presente trabalho apresenta uma comparação entre resultados de ensaios realizadossobre varões de aço produzidos em troços retos e realizados sobre varões de açoproduzidos em rolo e posteriormente endireitados, colocando em evidência as principaisconsequências do processo de endireitamento sobre a alteração das característicasmecânicas dos varões de aço laminados a quente, e sobre a geometria das suas nervuras,que asseguram a sua aderência ao betão.São também apresentadas algumas considerações sobre medidas possíveis para precavera utilização de varões que deixem de cumprir as exigências regulamentares devido àsconsequências do seu endireitamento.

The main aim of this Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study was to assess and comparethe environmental impacts of thermally treated and untreated maritime pine boards to be used as cladding. All processes were considered from forest management and resource extraction until cladding construction and its use during the next 15 years. At the end of the claddings life cycle it has been considered that the pine boards will be used as wood fuel to substitute firewood in the local heating system. The ReCiPe-V1.08 was the method selected for Life Cycle Impact Assessment of the products. The foreground data came from a Portuguese company that uses the ThermoWood method to thermally treat the pine boards and the background data came from the databases embedded in the SimaPro software. LCA results from the study have shown that the ´Ecosystems´ is the most important damage category mainly due to ´Agricultural land occupation´ by thewood in the forest. The cladding made by pine boards thermally treated can beconsidered more environmental friendly than the cladding made by untreated pineboards unless a very high weight (very close to 100 %) is given to impacts on ´Humanhealth´ and ´Resources´ while a very low weight (very close to 0 %) is given to impacts on ´Ecosystems´. The study has also demonstrated an increase of potentialenvironmental advantages of the thermally treated pine boards if wood energy is used inthe heat treatment process instead Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

O comportamento de ligações do tipo madeira-madeira com placas de madeira densificadae ligadores do tipo cavilha de FRP foi analisado experimentalmente e foi desenvolvido um modelo de cálculo com base nas expressões da EN 1995-1-1. Foram realizados ensaios de esmagamento localizado em placas de madeira densificada e ensaios de caracterização dos ligadores de FRP, bem como ensaios de ligações estruturais fabricadas com estes materiais. Os resultados mostram que as ligações têm um comportamento adequado à sua utilizaçãoestrutural, em termos de capacidade de carga e ductilidade, e o modelo de cálculo propostoapresenta resultados coerentes com os resultados experimentais.

Neste trabalho apresentam-se os resultados obtidos de um estudo paramétrico realizado com o intuito de quantificar a influência relativa da localização e características geométricas da estrutura em monopolos auto-suportados utilizados para telecomunicações, e aquando da definição da ação do vento. Pretendeu-se ainda conhecer a importância global destes parâmetros aquando da análise e dimensionamento deste tipo de estruturas.

Neste trabalho são apresentados e discutidos os resultados obtidos num estudo paramétrico realizado com o intuito de quantificar a influência relativa dos equipamentos utilizados em monopolos auto-suportados para telecomunicações, aquando da definição da ação do vento sobre estas estruturas. Pretende-se dar a conhecer a importância global do conjunto dos equipamentos utilizados neste tipo de estruturas, abordando-se ainda algumas matérias particulares como, por exemplo, o efeito de interferência entre antenas e interfaces, o efeito de escudo entre escadas e fuste, e o efeito de bloco dos caminhos de cabos.

Bridge falsework systems are one of the most common temporary structures used in the construction industry, namely to support the formwork during the construction, rehabilitation or retrofit works of concrete bridges and viaducts. In this paper the results of numerical studies of a selected structural system are presented using a novel joint finite element and information gathered from the experimental tests. The accuracy and precision of these numerical models improves the existing bridge falsework systems behaviour and resistance numerical benchmarks. A key contribution of this paper is to present the results of different numerical modelling options, from which the effect of various modelling simplifications are analysed and discussed.

This paper presents the principles of a method for the architectural design of timber houses based on the experience gained by timber companies. This proposal has as its major goal the challenging of the scenario of countries like Portugal where a shift in the design and construction methods integrating wood as a material could result in a much more sustainable habitat. A set of interviews was carried out with Portuguese companies in the sector of timber houses. They were questioned about their customers, design methods, the architect

Apresenta-se o trabalho realizado com o objectivo de avaliar a viabilidade da utilização de parafusos auto perfurantes e placas de contraplacado na reparação de vigas retas delaminadas, previamente levadas à rotura por flexão. O programa de ensaios envolveu o fabrico de 21 vigas com 3,090m x 0,175m x 0,095m, apresentando diversos tipos de delaminação. As vigas foram ensaiadas em flexão até à rotura, sendo posteriormente reparadas com recurso a parafusos auto perfurantes e placas de contraplacado, e ensaiadas de novo à flexão.Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a reparação efetuada foi tanto mais eficaz quanto menos danificada tivesse ficado a viga após o primeiro ensaio, e que a utilização de parafusos auto perfurantes aumentou a ductilidade das vigas.

Bridge falsework systems are one of the most common temporary structures used in the construction industry, namely to support the formwork during the construction, rehabilitation or retrofit works of concrete bridges and viaducts. A key contribution of this paper is to propose a novel risk management methodology based on newly developed robustness and fragility indices. Advanced stochastic investigations are carried out, in which the key variables that control the stochastic behaviour of bridge falsework systems are identified.Possible strategies to increase robustness and decrease fragility are discussed. The information gathered in this paper can be used to develop more rational and reliable bridge falsework structures thus safer and more design efficient.

Timber, as a construction material, has played an important role in the history of architecture and construction since is very beginning. Naturally, the concerns about its durability and resistance are equally old and have been registered throughout history on building treaties and writings that can date as far as the Old Testament. Being a natural material, bio-deterioration is one of wood

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

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.

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A