Wood Science and Forest Products
 www.woodscience.vt.edu/
Paul M. Winistorfer, Head
Professors: D.A. Brinberg1; R.J. Bush; C.E. Frazier; A.L. Hammett;
D.E. Kline; J.R. Loferski; R.L. Smith; M.S. White; P.M. Winistorfer
Associate Professors: A. Zink-Sharp
Assistant Professors: B.H. Bond; J.K. Han; D.E. Hindman; M. Roman
Adjunct Senior Research Scientist: P. A. Araman
Professor Emeritus: W.G. Glasser; G. Ifju; C. Skaar; F.A. Woeste2; R.L. Youngs
Career Advisor: J.A. Araman (231-7740)
1 Courtesy Appointment joint with Marketing
2 Joint Appointment with Biological Systems Engineering
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Adhesion Science
This option is rooted in chemistry and introductory polymer science. It prepares students for numerous career tracks which include: the adhesives industry, the wood-based composites industry, and other disciplines in which the unique combination of chemistry, polymer science and wood science hold great value. This option satisfies the requirements for a minor in chemistry.
Forest Products Marketing and Management
This option provides students with an industry-specific background through its combination of business and wood science coursework. There are numerous career opportunities for this option in both the private and public sectors. Employment experiences can include management of wood products manufacturing operations, marketing and sales in the wood products sector, utilization of wood to create innovative products, as well as coordination of international trade to match forest products producers to export market opportunities.
Manufacturing Systems
This option with its industrial engineering and production/operations management coursework provides a solid foundation for individuals seeking to manage wood products manufacturing operations in internationally competitive environments Within this option, students gain interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to drive creative product and process development, to effectively utilize the latest in technological innovations to assure quality in manufactured wood products, and to assure efficient and timely delivery to the customer.
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)
This option focuses on the socio-economic aspects of the products originating from forests other than industrial timber and how those products can impact the local and national economies of both industrialized and non-industrialized countries. Career opportunities are global and range from technical assistance to support sustainable use, management, and development of NTFPs to consulting assistance to find markets and develop management plans for NTFPs.
Packaging Science
Significant opportunities exist to improve the efficiency and safety of the global unit load logistics system of product storage and distribution by understanding how critical components in the system interact during use. Graduates of this option will be unique in the industry with an understanding of transport packaging and unit load systems-based design technologies, which include the interactions of packaging, pallets, and unit load material handling equipment. Interdisciplinary education and research will include all components of the unit load logistics system, including packaging design, pallet design, unit load stabilization, dunnage, blocking, and bracing, unit load handling equipment design, and associated interactions, and includes courses in wood science and forest products, industrial and systems engineering, material science engineering, and graphic arts.
Course Descriptions (WOOD)
1234: INTRODUCTION TO WOOD SCIENCE AND FOREST PRODUCTS
Wood as a material. Introduction to laboratory techniques, wood processing, machining and woodworking, moisture interactions, species characteristics, microscopic techniques, measuring material properties, characteristics of forest products industry, career opportunities. (1H,3L,2C)
2554: WOOD MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TECHNIQUES
Introduction to the basic materials science of wood, and to the common analytical techniques for characterizing and testing wood. Scientific measurements and data collection. Wood thermal properties. Mass transport in wood. Water and wood equilibria. Wood electrical properties. Wood microscopy and digital image analysis. Material property testing. Pre: 1234. (1H,3L,2C)
2614: FOREST PRODUCTS MARKETING
Study of marketing systems and methods used by North American primary and secondary forest product industries. Emphasis on wood product industries. Marketing of hardwood lumber, softwood lumber, panels, composites, furniture, and paper products. Role of North American industries and markets in world trade of forest products. (3H,3C)
2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
3114: WOOD STRUCTURE, PROPERTIES & PROCESSING
Gross and microscopic structure and chemical composition of wood. Macroscopic and microscopic structure and identification of commercially important woods. Impact of structure on physical and mechanical properties of wood. Principles of wood processing, including sawmilling, veneering, composite boards, paper. Description of the wood products industry including the products manufactured, the raw material requirements for each products, the processing procedures, and the demand for the product. (2H,3L,3C) II.
3234: WOOD IDENTIFICATION PROPERTIES LABORATORY
Physical properties and characteristics of wood. Methods for determining its physical properties. Variation of the properties. Structure, properties, & processing of tropical woods. (3L,1C) I.
3334: SURVEY OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS
In depth study of non-timber forest products of NTFP throughout Appalachia with overseas example – their heritage, uses and markets, economic development opportunities, and sustainable management. Emphasis will be placed on utilization and management issues. Students will gain skills necessary to assess and plan for NTFP business opportunities. (3H,3C)
3434: WOOD CHEMISTRY, PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES
Chemistry of structural wood components, polysaccharides, lignin, and extractives. Principles of industrial wood processes that involve chemical technology: pulping, bleaching and papermaking. Products derived from wood by chemical processes. Pre: 3114, CHEM 1036. (3H,3C) II.
3534: LUMBER MANUFACTURING AND DRYING
The processing of logs into dry lumber. Principles of log and lumber grading. Design and operation of log sawing and lumber drying systems. Techniques for measuring lumber manufacturing and lumber drying efficiency. The relationship between log quality, sawing, and drying and the quality of the product produced. Pre: 3114. (2H,3L,3C)
3544: SECONDARY WOOD PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING
Secondary wood products manufacturing, including raw materials, rough mill, finish mill, assembly, and finishing. Also covers machinery, wood machining, plant layout, production methods, modern industrial engineering concepts in secondary manufacturing, and wood treating. Visits to local secondary wood products manufacturing industry. Pre: 3114, 3534. (2H,3L,3C)
3784 (FOR 3784): WORLD FORESTS AND FOREST PRODUCTS
This course uses a socio-economic approach to examine the management and use of the world's forests, enhance knowledge of global forest resources and products, and understand the roles and relationships of key stakeholders. (3H,3C)
3954: STUDY ABROAD
Variable credit course.
3964: FIELD STUDY
Variable credit course.
4004: SENIOR SEMINAR IN FOREST PRODUCTS MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT
Integrated application of principles of management and marketing. This capstone class will develop skills in business planning and decision making for future managers in the forest products industry. Senior standing required. (1H,1C)
4124: PAPER AND PAPERBOARD PACKAGING
Paper and paperboard properties and types. Types and performance of flexible paper packaging, sacks, and wraps. Folding carton design, properties of corrugated fiberboard. Corrugated fiberboard container design and performance. Packaging regulations and hazards of the distribution environment. Printing, labeling and automatic identification methods. Pre: 3114, 3434. (2H,3L,3C)
4154: COMPUTER APPLICATION SYSTEMS IN FOREST PRODUCTS
Computer control systems with applications in the forest products industry. Survey of systems for gathering, inputting, conditioning, and managing information. Hardware and software systems for computer control applications. Use of information technologies to integrate control subject to raw material, quality, and market fluctuations. Forest products case studies in data acquisition, data analysis, database management production planning, process control, inventory control, and systems specification. Junior standing is required. (2H,3L,3C)
4224: WOOD PALLET, CONTAINER, AND UNIT LOAD DESIGN
Wood pallet design and performance. The design of wood containers and crates. Design and performance of unit loads. Design and performance of unit load equipment, i.e., conveyors, racking systems, automatic guided vehicles, fork trucks. Principles of unit load design. Mechanical interactions between pallets, packaging, and unit load handling equipment. Unit load stabilization techniques, i.e., strapping, stretch wrapping. International phytosanitation regulations of solid wood packaging; principles of dunnage, blocking and bracing. Pre: 3534, 4124, 4315. (2H,3L,3C)
4315-4316: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WOOD
4315: Behavior of wood members as rigid bodies. Axial and flexural force response of wood structural elements in simple frames and trusses. Philosophy and methodology of the use of wood products in the design of wood structures and components. 4316: Standard methods of evaluating economically important mechanical properties of solid wood. Effects of micro and macro structure, temperature, moisture content, biodegradation, and chemical action on wood properties. Rheological characteristics of wood. Pre: 3114, MATH 2015 for 4315; 4315 for 4316. 4315: (2H,2C) 4316: (2H,3L,3C) 4315: I; 4316: II.
4445-4446: WOOD ADHESION AND COMPOSITES
4445: Introductory polymer science and surface chemistry. Fundamentals of adhesion and fracture in adhesively bonded wood. Industrially significat adhesive systems used for bonding wood with emphasis on wood-based composites. Introduction to wood coatings, formulation, application and weather durability. 4446: Processing of wood-based composites, product design and performance; product testing and standards. Pre: 3434 for 4445; 4445 for 4446. (2H,3L,3C)
4514: WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY STUDIES
Field studies of the processing systems and product manufacturing procedures of various wood products industries. Pre: 3114. (3L,1C) I.
4624: WOOD INDUSTRY PRODUCTION OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Study of the operation of wood products organizations. Problems facing these organizations and current management practices used to address these problems. Investigation of the design and implementation of wood industry management improvement efforts. How organizations and groups design, implement, and evaluate improvements efforts. The application of techniques to production planning, financial management, inventory management, quality, human resources management, technology, performance measures, and assessment. Includes case studies of wood products manufacturing companies. Pre: 3544. (2H,3L,3C)
4634: FOREST PRODUCTS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
This course will describe the allocation of resources within a forest produsts business. Students will determine how to allocate natural, human and financial resources to maximize profitability within the organization. How allocation
decisions affect all stakeholders of the organization will be demonstrated and this allocation's impact upon strategic planning will be discussed. The course will also show the impact of the external business environment on management decisions. Pre: 1234, 2614, 3114. (3H,3C)
4714: WOOD PERFORMANCE IN CONSTRUCTION
Interactions of building code requirements, wood materials and building construction with special emphasis on relative merit of wood and wood-based composites versus non-wood alternatives. Construction details that lead to long-term performance such as controlling moisture infiltration, preservatives, and proper selection of materials, preservation of historic wood buildings, effectiveness and efficiency of wood building systems. Pre: 4315. (3H,3C) II.
4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.
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