Mapping char depth in Ponderosa pine CLT specimens subjected to fire tests.
Faculty mentor/Supervisor:
Lech Muszynski
Email Address:
Department Affiliation:
Wood Science & Engineering
Project Location:
The primary plan is to conduct the work in the Oak Creek open-air compound under dedicated lab access approval issued by COF safety committee (cutup of the test panels and digital image acquisition) and from home/office (data processing and analysis).
Project Description:
This project opportunity is concerned with mapping char depth in eight 4 ft x 6 ft Ponderosa pine cross-laminated timber (CLT) specimens subjected to fire tests at the Western Fire Center in Kelso, WA between September 1 and 4, 2020. The project involves: 1) physical dissection of the original specimens exposed to fire into 6 in x 6 in segments on which the position of the char front will be determined using optical measurement methods; 2) processing the measurement data and creating char depth maps showing spatial distribution of the char depth over specimen areas; and 3) statistical analysis of the processed data.
Methodology of all stages of this project has been prototyped and developed by Cassie Holloway, a MEP program graduate (2018/2019).
This MEP project will contribute to a larger project concerned with fire performance of custom Ponderosa pine CLT panels utilizing material generated in forest restoration programs.
The MEP Student Protégé will be mentored by Lech Muszynski, the PI on this project, and assisted by Seung hyun Hong, the MS level GRA on this project.
Describe the type of work and tasks you anticipate the student will perform:
The Student Protégé tasks will include:
1) physical dissection of the original specimens exposed to fire into 6 in x 6 in segments on which the position of the char front will be determined using optical measurement methods (to be performed at the Oak Creek open-air compound under dedicated lab access approval issued by COF safety committee, the student will receive proper safety training and, by WSE safety guidelines, will be accompanied by a safety buddy when working with power tools);
2) processing the measurement data and creating char depth maps showing spatial distribution of the char depth over specimen areas; (to be performed from home/office)
3) statistical analysis of the processed data (to be performed from home/office)
Hourly rate of pay:
$12.50/hr
Detail your mentorship plan:
In the initial stage of the project (week 1 and 2) Lech (the mentor and PI) and Seung hyun (the GRA) will meet the student couple times a week to explain the objectives and methodology of the project and provide necessary training. During this time the working schedule will be established and a series of scheduled weekly meetings: all-team meetings in odd weeks of the term, and mentor-protégé meetings on even weeks of the term. The mentor (Lech) maintains an "open door policy" and will respond to the requests for additional meetings outside the regular schedule.
The protégé will be advised on the specifics of the project, and mentored on general concepts of scientific methodology, reporting scientific work, and the scientific communication in general.