New UMaine Composites Laboratory Addition Hosts Projects with Maine Businesses
Contact: Nick Houtman at (207) 581-3777
ORONO, Maine — Just over a year after Maine voters approved a jobs bond in June 2003, the University of Maine’s Advanced Engineering Wood Composites (AEWC) Center is humming with activity in a new laboratory funded by the bond. “Many projects involve Maine businesses and communities in need of the kind of economic development that could be supported by innovative composite wood products,” says Habib Dagher, AEWC director and professor of civil and environmental engineering at UMaine.
“We have moved quickly on the design and construction of the laboratory addition because we needed the space to carry out projects on behalf of a number of Maine businesses,” says Dagher. “Considering the importance of moving quickly to maximize the impact for the people of Maine, UMaine System Chancellor Westphal, former President Peter Hoff, and Interim President Robert Kennedy provided us with the tools and support to make this project happen in record time.”
AEWC Associate Director Stephen Shaler oversaw construction and worked closely with UMaine’s Department of Facilities Management, WBRC Architects and Engineers of Bangor and the H.E. Sargent Construction Company of Stillwater to complete the addition.
The project is one example of economic development opportunities that stem from a partnership among strong university research and development programs, state government and the business community. AEWC is playing a role by developing new composite technologies.
For example, a new roof system uses panels that allow construction of cathedral ceilings with no roof trusses. The panels are insulated, internally vented and can accommodate long spans under heavy snow loads. This project is being conducted for a new startup Maine company, NETFORMS, located in Falmouth. The firm has received Maine Technology Institute (MTI) seed funding to evaluate the technology. MTI funds are being sought to complete the design and testing of the new roof system under snow and high wind loading.
Another research project uses what engineers call Delta-strand wood composites that are made from pulpwood-grade logs and are three times stronger than the original wood. “This is achieved by randomizing the defects in the wood structure and densely packing the strands by utilizing the delta geometry,” says Dagher. The University has applied for a patent for this technology.
“We are currently in the process of getting National Building Code approval for the technology, so that a company can be set up in Maine to produce this product,” he adds. “Research efforts to develop the product are still under way and will take two more years. Once this is completed, the big challenge would be to attract investors who want to come to Maine to establish a manufacturing facility.”
UMaine is working with the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the Wood Composites Incubator in Greenville to identify investors for this and other programs.
A third project underway in the new laboratory addition is a study of Maine wood species to develop Oriented Strand Lumber (OSL) studs, joists, beams, and headers. OSL consists of wood strands that are bonded together with the grain running parallel to the axis of the member.
“In the new lab addition, we are studying the effectiveness of using Maine wood species in the OSL process, as well as the optimum shape and size of the strands. OSL composite studs and joists are now used in upscale home framing by large home builders because the composites do not twist or warp and can be produced in practically any length and width. This OSL technology has potential for Maine because it uses a variety of low-grade woods that are abundant in the Maine forests,” Dagher adds.
“Student researchers are also developing a new lightweight prefabricated composite arched roadway bridge system that works in the 20 ft to 60 ft span range,” says Dagher. The fiberglass/carbon fiber hybrid composite arch sections can be lifted in place by two workers. Engineering students are focusing on ways to speed up the manufacturing process for these arches to reduce costs and achieve commercial feasibility.
“If one examines the growth of the forest products industry in the 1990s, the solid-sawn wood market has grown by 30%, whereas the wood composite market has grown by 100%. This is one reason that UMaine has built a world leading program in this field,” Dagher says.