Instructor:
Dr. Rado Gazo, Assistant Professor
Phone: (765) 494-3634
E-mail: gazo@purdue.edu
Office hours: Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. or by appointment
Class Time:
| Monday | 9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. |
| Wednesday | 9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. |
| Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. (Lab.) |
Objective of Course:
The course objective is to familiarize the student with the basic physical, mechanical and working properties of wood and wood composites. These properties include orthotropic nature of wood, grain, texture, moisture content, shrinking, swelling, specific gravity, machining, thermal properties, electrical properties, elastic properties, strength properties, vibration properties, bending, natural characteristics affecting mechanical properties, effect of manufacturing and service environment on mechanical properties, changing quality of available resources and implications of wood quality changes for manufacturing.
Textbooks:
Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. 1987, Forest Products Laboratory, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
One copy is on reserve in instructor's office.
Grading:
| Undergraduate Students % of grade |
Graduate Students % of grade |
|
|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Reports | 30 | 20 |
| Research Paper | 10 | |
| Class Participation | 10 | |
| Three one-hour exams | 30 | 30 |
| Weekly quizzes | 10 | 10 |
| Final Exam | 30 | 30 |
WARNING: No laboratory assignments will be accepted late and no make-up exams will be given unless arrangements are made with the instructor prior to the due date of the assignment or exam.
Class attendance:
It is the student's responsibility to know what was covered (including notes, handouts and homework) in class during any absence. Contact instructor if you anticipate extended absence.
Cheating:
Cheating on quizzes and exams and plagiarism will not be tolerated and will be dealt with according to the university policy. The student is obligated to solve home problems on his own; however, assistance (working together) is legal and sometimes necessary for learning efficiency. But sloppy repeat of another person's errors will not be overlooked.
Research Paper and Classroom Presentation (graduate students only):
A list of research topics will be provided from which each graduate student will select one for a research paper. Students may also suggest a topic in which they are personally interested. This paper must be type written and is expected to be of very high quality. The research paper will provide the basis for a 20-minute classroom presentation. Audiovisual aids are expected to be used to assist audience understanding.
Tentative Course Outline