Diversity of mechanical and physico-chemical properties

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.

The UE "Diversity of mechanical and physico-chemical properties" aims at acquiring knowledge on the physico-mechanical behavior of wood, its specificities (heterogeneity, anisotropy and variability) in relation with its structure and chemistry. Emphasis will be placed on intra- and inter-species diversity and the consequences for uses.