Wood Science

Morphogenesis and fundamental processes in tree development

               Primary growth (organogenesis and elongation; stem & root)

               Secondary growth (cambium and phellogen function)

               Branching and branching patterns

               Reproduction (from flower to fruit) and reproductive phenology

Tree architecture

               Architectural models

               The concept of architectural unity

               Reiteration

               Senescence and decay

               Morphogenetic gradients

               Root architecture

               Diversity, variability and plasticity of tree function and adaptation

Structure-time relationships: dendrochronological approaches      

               Phenology and chronobiology

               Primary growth, branching, flowering and morpho-anatomical markers

               Cambial function and growth rings

               Posterior reconstruction of the tree's development

Ecophysiology and functional architecture of trees             

               Mechanical support

               Root absorption (incl. role of mycorrhizae)

               Conduction

               Photosynthesis

               The reserves

               The reproduction

               Trade-off and trade-off between functions

Adaptations and structure-function relationships

               Adaptation to herbivory (spinescence, underground stems, latex, chemical compounds, ...)

               Resistance to pathogens (bark, latex, ...)

               Fire resistance (bark, ability to reject, pyrophytes ...)

               Drought tolerance/resistance

The wood marker of history

               Anthracology

               Dendrochronology / dendroclimatology

               Marker of vegetation, uses, climate

               TP analysis of cores after drying...

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• Introduction to statistics and the scientific approach

                       Scientific approach

                       Data structuring

                       Descriptive statistics

                       Overview of analysis methods

                       A critical look at the statistics

• Univariate analyses

                       Comparison tests

                       Compliance of a distribution

                       Simple regression and analysis of variance/covariance

• Multivariate analysis

                       Correlations and principal component analysis

                       Multiple linear regression

                       Non-linear adjustments

• Classification and discrimination

                       Classification (supervised, unsupervised)

                       Segmentation and discrimination

• Statistical analysis tools

                       Introduction to R software

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- Taxonomy / phylogeny : the concept of species               

- The origins of the tree / the origins of wood - Appearance of tree forms, invention of wood and evolution   

- Evolution of the cambium and the vascular system                          

- Diversity of woody plans (tracheids / vessels / fibers / parenchyma)

- Anatomical features and taxonomic recognition of temperate and tropical woods                  

- Chemical composition of wood              

- Macromolecules (Cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignins,...) and their properties (Tg)

- Nano-structure - meso- and nano-porosity, organization of cellulose microfibrils (interaction between chemical compounds)              

- Chemical composition of wood              

- Secondary metabolites (function, composition, diversity), extractables       

- Chemical composition of wood - Gums, latex, exudates, resins          

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Mechanical behaviour of wood

One-dimensional elastic behavior and resistance of materials (RDM) applied to structures with wooden beams and introduction to calculation codes (finite element modeling).

One-dimensional viscoelasticity and damping.

Orthotropic behavior.

Behavior at breakage.

Quasi-static and vibratory measurement methods.

Wood versus other materials (Ashby maps).

Physical and chemical properties of wood

Thermal and hygroscopic properties (shrinkage-swelling), consequence on the elastic properties.

Relationships between structure, chemistry and physico-mechanical behavior (from the cell wall scale to the macroscopic scale).

Sensory properties: colors, smells, touch, sound and taste properties.

Diversity of woods and diversity of uses

Variability within a species and diversity between species (temperate, Mediterranean, tropical) of physical-mechanical properties.

Woods at the interface of several categories of diversity (biological, physical-mechanical, functional, cultural), illustrated by specific uses and across different geocultural areas.

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The case study is a stimulating step in the training and learning process which aims, through a real situation in a company, an industrial sector or a research sector, related to the forestry-wood sector, to develop not only the students' knowledge, but above all the know-how and interpersonal skills of managers and leaders. The case study is therefore oriented towards active learning for the students through group reflection and discussion in a real situation.

The various study subjects are proposed by industrialists, professionals and researchers and research teachers. The subjects are interdisciplinary, scientific, technical or socio-economic.

In order to meet the client's request, the student uses his previous knowledge and combines it with his newly acquired knowledge. Supervised by one or more educational tutors, the group of students will be in charge of developing instructions, procedures, specifications, reports and renderings of the study based on the results of tests, trials and/or surveys, in order to meet the client's request. Dialogue with peers, through exchange, confrontation or argumentation, contributes greatly to the successful completion of this project.

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 History and sociology of wood

            History of the uses of wood, from the Paleolithic to the present day

            Myths about trees and wood: a guided tour of the Jardin des Plantes

            Wood and forest: representations and uses

Carbon and climate change

            Greenhouse effect and climate change

            Carbon balance from forest to wood products

Economy and geopolitics of the wood industry           

            Carbon economy

            The global wood industry - Geopolitics and sustainability of wood uses - Global flows

            The actors of the traditional and technical wood industry, in France and in the world

            Geopolitics of production, conflicts of land use. Value of the forest compared to other uses (mining, agriculture, urbanism, ...)

Forest ecosystem services

            Biodiversity, air/water filtration, hydraulic regulator

            Reception of the public, products gathering, hunting,

            Landscape, opening/closing of environments

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Logging and primary processing.

^1st and^2nd transformation machining

Structuring of the^1st transformation

Growth constraints and technological consequences

Drying and hygroscopic behavior

Degradation and durability

See full page

Listening comprehension - video materials, lectures, group discussions

Reading comprehension - from articles in the scientific press

Interactive speaking - lectures, debates and group work

Written expression - note taking (reports)

See full page

Biophysical specifications of the tree

Mechanics of the shaft subjected to gravity

Shaft hydraulics

Shaft mechanics under external loading

Integrative tree biophysics

Biophysical adaptations and wood quality

See full page

Morphogenesis and fundamental processes in tree development

               Primary growth (organogenesis and elongation; stem & root)

               Secondary growth (cambium and phellogen function)

               Branching and branching patterns

               Reproduction (from flower to fruit) and reproductive phenology

Tree architecture

               Architectural models

               The concept of architectural unity

               Reiteration

               Senescence and decay

               Morphogenetic gradients

               Root architecture

               Diversity, variability and plasticity of tree function and adaptation

Structure-time relationships: dendrochronological approaches      

               Phenology and chronobiology

               Primary growth, branching, flowering and morpho-anatomical markers

               Cambial function and growth rings

               Posterior reconstruction of the tree's development

Ecophysiology and functional architecture of trees             

               Mechanical support

               Root absorption (incl. role of mycorrhizae)

               Conduction

               Photosynthesis

               The reserves

               The reproduction

               Trade-off and trade-off between functions

Adaptations and structure-function relationships

               Adaptation to herbivory (spinescence, underground stems, latex, chemical compounds, ...)

               Resistance to pathogens (bark, latex, ...)

               Fire resistance (bark, ability to reject, pyrophytes ...)

               Drought tolerance/resistance

The wood marker of history

               Anthracology

               Dendrochronology / dendroclimatology

               Marker of vegetation, uses, climate

               TP analysis of cores after drying...

See full page

See full page

See full page

• Introduction to statistics and the scientific approach

                       Scientific approach

                       Data structuring

                       Descriptive statistics

                       Overview of analysis methods

                       A critical look at the statistics

• Univariate analyses

                       Comparison tests

                       Compliance of a distribution

                       Simple regression and analysis of variance/covariance

• Multivariate analysis

                       Correlations and principal component analysis

                       Multiple linear regression

                       Non-linear adjustments

• Classification and discrimination

                       Classification (supervised, unsupervised)

                       Segmentation and discrimination

• Statistical analysis tools

                       Introduction to R software

See full page

- Taxonomy / phylogeny : the concept of species               

- The origins of the tree / the origins of wood - Appearance of tree forms, invention of wood and evolution   

- Evolution of the cambium and the vascular system                          

- Diversity of woody plans (tracheids / vessels / fibers / parenchyma)

- Anatomical features and taxonomic recognition of temperate and tropical woods                  

- Chemical composition of wood              

- Macromolecules (Cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignins,...) and their properties (Tg)

- Nano-structure - meso- and nano-porosity, organization of cellulose microfibrils (interaction between chemical compounds)              

- Chemical composition of wood              

- Secondary metabolites (function, composition, diversity), extractables       

- Chemical composition of wood - Gums, latex, exudates, resins          

See full page

Mechanical behaviour of wood

One-dimensional elastic behavior and resistance of materials (RDM) applied to structures with wooden beams and introduction to calculation codes (finite element modeling).

One-dimensional viscoelasticity and damping.

Orthotropic behavior.

Behavior at breakage.

Quasi-static and vibratory measurement methods.

Wood versus other materials (Ashby maps).

Physical and chemical properties of wood

Thermal and hygroscopic properties (shrinkage-swelling), consequence on the elastic properties.

Relationships between structure, chemistry and physico-mechanical behavior (from the cell wall scale to the macroscopic scale).

Sensory properties: colors, smells, touch, sound and taste properties.

Diversity of woods and diversity of uses

Variability within a species and diversity between species (temperate, Mediterranean, tropical) of physical-mechanical properties.

Woods at the interface of several categories of diversity (biological, physical-mechanical, functional, cultural), illustrated by specific uses and across different geocultural areas.

See full page

The case study is a stimulating step in the training and learning process which aims, through a real situation in a company, an industrial sector or a research sector, related to the forestry-wood sector, to develop not only the students' knowledge, but above all the know-how and interpersonal skills of managers and leaders. The case study is therefore oriented towards active learning for the students through group reflection and discussion in a real situation.

The various study subjects are proposed by industrialists, professionals and researchers and research teachers. The subjects are interdisciplinary, scientific, technical or socio-economic.

In order to meet the client's request, the student uses his previous knowledge and combines it with his newly acquired knowledge. Supervised by one or more educational tutors, the group of students will be in charge of developing instructions, procedures, specifications, reports and renderings of the study based on the results of tests, trials and/or surveys, in order to meet the client's request. Dialogue with peers, through exchange, confrontation or argumentation, contributes greatly to the successful completion of this project.

See full page

 History and sociology of wood

            History of the uses of wood, from the Paleolithic to the present day

            Myths about trees and wood: a guided tour of the Jardin des Plantes

            Wood and forest: representations and uses

Carbon and climate change

            Greenhouse effect and climate change

            Carbon balance from forest to wood products

Economy and geopolitics of the wood industry           

            Carbon economy

            The global wood industry - Geopolitics and sustainability of wood uses - Global flows

            The actors of the traditional and technical wood industry, in France and in the world

            Geopolitics of production, conflicts of land use. Value of the forest compared to other uses (mining, agriculture, urbanism, ...)

Forest ecosystem services

            Biodiversity, air/water filtration, hydraulic regulator

            Reception of the public, products gathering, hunting,

            Landscape, opening/closing of environments

See full page

See full page

See full page

Logging and primary processing.

^1st and^2nd transformation machining

Structuring of the^1st transformation

Growth constraints and technological consequences

Drying and hygroscopic behavior

Degradation and durability

See full page

Listening comprehension - video materials, lectures, group discussions

Reading comprehension - from articles in the scientific press

Interactive speaking - lectures, debates and group work

Written expression - note taking (reports)

See full page

Biophysical specifications of the tree

Mechanics of the shaft subjected to gravity

Shaft hydraulics

Shaft mechanics under external loading

Integrative tree biophysics

Biophysical adaptations and wood quality

See full page

See full page

See full page

Use of lumber :

Wood products for construction (solid, finger-jointed, glued laminated, cross-laminated, panels, etc.), channels, classifications and uses.

History of construction and contemporary architecture

Challenges and specificities of wood construction operations:

• Design: main checks of structure, envelope, acoustics, etc.
• Realization: particularities and organization of the building sites.
• Operation: hygro-thermal performance, comfort and well-being, etc.
• Longevity and end of life: life cycle analysis of constructions, recyclability, re-use.

Noble woods in the craft for cabinet making, marquetry, violin making, etc.

Uses of industrial wood : 

Wooden materials for packaging (pallets, crates, tanks, etc.)

Composite materials with plant reinforcements including wood (in products for construction, transport, sports and leisure, design, etc.)

Wood materials in thermal insulation (loose, semi-rigid, rigid, etc.).

Functionalized wood materials (transparent wood, augmented wood, etc.)

Resources, materials and paper production (printing, technical, cardboard, etc.)

See full page

Listening comprehension - video materials, lectures, group discussions

Reading comprehension - from articles in the scientific press

Interactive speaking - lectures, debates and group work

Written expression - note taking (reports)

See full page

See full page

See full page

See full page

See full page

See full page

See full page

See full page

See full page

Use of lumber :

Wood products for construction (solid, finger-jointed, glued laminated, cross-laminated, panels, etc.), channels, classifications and uses.

History of construction and contemporary architecture

Challenges and specificities of wood construction operations:

• Design: main checks of structure, envelope, acoustics, etc.
• Realization: particularities and organization of the building sites.
• Operation: hygro-thermal performance, comfort and well-being, etc.
• Longevity and end of life: life cycle analysis of constructions, recyclability, re-use.

Noble woods in the craft for cabinet making, marquetry, violin making, etc.

Uses of industrial wood : 

Wooden materials for packaging (pallets, crates, tanks, etc.)

Composite materials with plant reinforcements including wood (in products for construction, transport, sports and leisure, design, etc.)

Wood materials in thermal insulation (loose, semi-rigid, rigid, etc.).

Functionalized wood materials (transparent wood, augmented wood, etc.)

Resources, materials and paper production (printing, technical, cardboard, etc.)

See full page

Listening comprehension - video materials, lectures, group discussions

Reading comprehension - from articles in the scientific press

Interactive speaking - lectures, debates and group work

Written expression - note taking (reports)

See full page

See full page

See full page

See full page

See full page

See full page

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