Lab Live: Wood
Applied Science in Action to Examine Material Performance
In the next session of this series, our technical experts and laboratory specialists will focus on wood as a structural and building enclosure material, discuss wood’s performance in different environmental settings, and share testing demonstrations to show how SGH’s Applied Science & Research Center helps evaluate wood-related questions. Through a series of discussions, we will explore wood’s varied applications in the construction industry. We will also demonstrate several testing approaches, including comparing finite element analysis models to as-built assemblies to validate residential balustrade forces and using microscopy to identify wood characteristics from field specimens. We will also discuss water infiltration test methods for cross-laminated timber (CLT) materials.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Discuss how wood is generally used as a building material in new design, repair, and rehabilitation projects.
- Understand how physical testing can help validate digital modeling.
- Review various applications of wood microscopy to identify key characteristics of wood.
- Understand the importance of protecting wood from moisture during construction and how results from subjecting CLT materials to water immersion with various protection schemes can inform best practices.
ABOUT THE LAB LIVE SERIES
To understand material performance in the field or determine the causes of underlying building conditions, engineers and material scientists often look to applied science and research methods to improve design and construction processes and probe known issues or problems. By combining technical knowledge with expertise in testing and materials science, these teams can help solve their clients’ most challenging problems by understanding why they occurred in the first place. In Simpson Gumpertz & Heger’s (SGH) virtual “Lab Live” series, we will demonstrate these testing and discovery methods in real time in our Applied Science & Research Center to focus on common and challenging material problems. In these dynamic sessions, we hope to spark discussions that lead to creative ideas and improved collaboration.
Participants will earn 1.5 AIA CES Learning Unit (LU/HSW) for attending the live webinar. Registration is free. Please note that space is limited – email events@sgh.com to join our waitlist if the session is closed when you register.
About the Speaker
Erik Farrington has extensive experience in structural design for new construction and repair and rehabilitation of numerous buildings. Erik leads SGH’s Structural Repair and Rehabilitation practice area and serves as a principal liaison for multidisciplinary structure-enclosure teams that tackle integrated repairs and rehabilitation of historic building exteriors that double as both structure and enclosure. He has been involved in renovation and structural preservation projects ranging from eighteenth-century wood-framed buildings to nineteenth-century masonry buildings to twentieth-century concrete and steel buildings. Erik has also been an engineer for projects involving investigation and evaluation of similar structures.
Max Kratzok is a member of SGH’s Applied Science & Research Center. He has been involved with many aspects of the work performed by the laboratory, including method development, data acquisition and analysis, physical design and setup of test apparatus and sensors, and standard and custom tests on specimens and structures. Max’s background in mechanical engineering, material characterization, and physical testing adds a different perspective to the laboratory’s broad knowledge base.
Eric Ober is a seasoned structural engineer with experience in design, investigation, and rehabilitation projects. He has extensive knowledge in the analysis and design of structural systems, construction documents, and construction administration. Eric has worked on a variety of mass timber building projects featuring cross-laminated timber elements, including mixed-use buildings, environmental education centers, private residences, and more.
Michael Richard specializes in new design, renovation, and structural investigation projects. He has worked on and managed projects ranging from the full repositioning of nineteenth-century brick masonry buildings and the retrofit of heavy timber structures to the structural design of private residences and art installations. With a background in non-conventional materials and structural testing, his interests include wood and masonry materials, wood science and microscopy, historic structural systems, and laboratory-aided design.
Melissa specializes in chemical engineering and materials science, bringing a diverse skill set to SGH’s Applied Science & Research Center, where she manages operations, coordinates projects, and ensures compliance with ISO 17025, AASHTO, and QANF accreditation standards. Her technical proficiency spans physical testing, chemical analysis, and other laboratory skills.
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