Representatives of Napier University’s Centre for Timber Engineering manned the “Listen to what the trees are saying” exhibit, which shows that sound waves can measure mechanical properties of wood at different stages of the supply chain, including standing trees.
Napier is part of the Strategic Integrated Research in Timber project, which includes partner organisations Forest Research, wood for good, FibreGen, the University of Glasgow and Laval University, Canada. All are helping to showcase the technology.
“By measuring the speed at which sound travels through wood, we can estimate its mechanical properties and in turn determine its best end use,” said Napier research associate Andrew Lyon.
“Usually, we don’t know this until it is processed and graded, but this technology lets us assess the timber whilst it is still in the forest.”
