Wood consolidation test

To determine the quantitative effects of this consolidation procedure, fabric disks cut from the extracted degraded fabric were used as substrates. These fabrics were torn on an Instron tensile testing machine as described earlier and patched with six applications of either the 0.1% dyed wood pulp or the 0.05% dyed Cellunier P slurry. The samples were then torn again on the Instron tester. The average breaking strengths and add-ons of the samples after six passes with slurry are reported in Table IV. A typical tom fabric and a patched fabric are shown in Figures 6 and 7. 

As highlighted by Profs. Burland, Muir Wood, Poulos and Atkinson, students are often uninspired by routine geotechnical laboratory tests. A key aspect of this is associated with the behaviour of fine-grained soils, where the time taken to obtain results is often not insignificant. This is particularly the case for oedome-ter and consolidated undrained triaxial tests on clay. These tests are slow and very little happens or can be observed and students cannot be easily engaged in these tests. The ability to speed up time in virtual tests is an attractive alternative for these tests. 

Termite Bioassays. Multiple choice tests were conducted using wood blocks of birch, red oak, redwood and Alaska yellow cedar where blocks were decayed by P. chrysosporium for either 3,8, or 12 wk. Bioassays were conducted using rectangular Rubbermaid storage containers (14.5 cm X 8.5 cm X 4 cm) (Consolidated Plastics, Twinsburg, Ohio). Each container served as a replicate and was filled with 100 g of sand (Standard Sand and Silica Company, Davenport, FL) moistened with 20 ml of water. Each container had four 2-cm diameter holes, one hole on each side. A 14 ml (17 x 100 mm) polystyrene round-bottom Falcon test tube (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ) was inserted into each hole and sealed in place using a glue gun. The position of treatment tubes was alternated between replicates to preclude any positional effects. Two hundred termites (190 workers 10 soldiers) were placed in the center of each container. The termites were able to move freely between the container and the tubes. 

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