Wood Structure and Properties

Course Information
TitleΔομή και Ιδιότητες Ξύλου / Wood Structure and Properties
Code23Υ
FacultyAgriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment
SchoolForestry and Natural Environment
Cycle / Level1st / Undergraduate, 3rd / Doctorate
Teaching PeriodSpring
CommonNo
StatusActive
Course ID600019411

Programme of Study: PPS Tmīmatos Dasologías kai Fysikoý Perivállontos (2020-sīmera)

Registered students: 57
OrientationAttendance TypeSemesterYearECTS
Compulsory CoursesCompulsory Course215

Class Information
Academic Year2021 – 2022
Class PeriodSpring
Faculty Instructors
Weekly Hours5
Class ID
600194580
Course Type 2021
Specific Foundation
Course Type 2016-2020
  • Background
  • Scientific Area
Course Type 2011-2015
Specific Foundation / Core
Mode of Delivery
  • Face to face
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
  • Greek (Instruction, Examination)
  • English (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
The students learn about the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of wood, the variability and differences among different species. They can recognize wood defects on standing trees and harvested stems and grade wood assortments. Finally, they can choose the correct species for further usage according to its properties.
General Competences
  • Apply knowledge in practice
  • Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
  • Work autonomously
  • Work in teams
  • Respect natural environment
Course Content (Syllabus)
Natural, macroscopic characteristics and identification of basic wood species. Transverse, radial, and tangential surface. Physical characteristics of wood: Color, gloss, odor, taste, texture, design, weight, hardness. Microscopic structure: Wood tissues, cell walls and cavities, intercellular layer, pits. Description of cell types of coniferous and deciduous species. Intercellular spaces and ducts. Chemical composition and infrastructure of wood: inorganic components, organic components and extractives. Microfiber structure and basic theories related to wood infrastructure. Cell wall structure, pits, warty layer. Distribution of chemical components in the cell walls of wood and effects on its properties and uses. Wood production mechanism: Production of new wood cells. Importance and action of the cambium. Evolution stages of wood cells. Variability and structural defects. Horizontal and vertical variability. Heartwood formation. Immature, mature and overripe wood. Growing rings. Variability between trees. Structural defects. Deviations a) the formal external form b) the responsibility. irregular structure of growth rings. Compressed and tensile wood. Tissue discontinuations, color abnormalities, knots and pith. Density: Factors affecting it, density variability, determination and importance. Hygroscopicity: Ways of retaining moisture in the wood, adsorption - desorption. Equilibrium moisture-content. Fiber saturation point. Determination and importance of the hygroscopicity of wood. Wood shrinkage and swelling. Identification and their importance. Mechanical, thermal, electrical and acoustic properties. Factors that affect them and their identification. Degradation of natural wood.
Keywords
wood identification, wood properties, wood utilization
Educational Material Types
  • Slide presentations
  • Multimedia
  • Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
  • Use of ICT in Course Teaching
  • Use of ICT in Laboratory Teaching
  • Use of ICT in Communication with Students
  • Use of ICT in Student Assessment
Description
Use of multimedia during the theory and laboratory exercises. Extensive email use for communication purposes with the students. Online quizes are used in students evaluation.
Course Organization
ActivitiesWorkloadECTSIndividualTeamworkErasmus
Lectures391.3
Laboratory Work260.9
Fieldwork
Reading Assigment461.5
Internship150.5
Field trips and participation in conferences / seminars / activities60.2
Written assigments150.5
Exams30.1
Total1505
Student Assessment
Student Assessment methods
  • Written Exam with Multiple Choice Questions (Formative, Summative)
  • Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Formative)
  • Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Formative, Summative)
  • Written Assignment (Formative, Summative)
  • Written Exam with Problem Solving (Formative, Summative)
Bibliography
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
Τσουμής, Γεώργιος, 2009. Δομή και Ιδιότητες Ξύλου. Εκδόσεις Γαρταγάνης. (Κωδ. Εύδοξου 2268)
Additional bibliography for study
Βουλγαρίδης Ηλίας, 2015. Ποιότητα και χρήσεις του Ξύλου. Διαθέσιμο ελεύθερα στο αποθετήριο Κάλλιπος: http://hdl.handle.net/11419/5260
Last Update
26-06-2022