WST 10101 Wood Science: Anatomy and Properties

(4 cr.) Lecture-Lab: 4-0
F,W
Wood is a beautiful and extraordinary building material. In northern Michigan, wood is abundantly available and has a growing workforce. Wood is a renewable building material; it is easy to machine, it is relatively light in weight, yet rigid and strong. However, to utilize wood as a building material, one must understand its organic and somewhat irregular nature; such as the variability of its properties among different species, its ability to deteriorate, and its relationship with water.

Wood Science: Anatomy and Properties will familiarize students with the anatomy and the physical and mechanical properties of wood. It provides an overview of structural systems, chemistry, commercial species and their particular uses. Students will also study forest harvesting systems, sustainable practices, and the future of the wood industry. Replaces: WST-10100