Research Activities

1. Wood Anatomy

• Wood structure for identification
• Studies on anatomical variations
• Clonal wood quality parameters
• Anatomy of CPCs of bamboo
• Histo-chemistry of Bamboo - before, during and after flowering
• Histo-chemistry vis-a-vis coffee stem borer
• Wood quality traits for species improvement
• Wood anatomy and archaeology

2. Wood Properties & Uses

• Wood quality properties of plantation timbers
• Effect of spiral grain on wood quality
• Electrical properties of lesser known and plantation timbers
• Acoustical properties of wood
• Non-destructive testing of wood and wood products
• Wood quality properties of hybrids
• Wood composites - LVL
• Fracture mechanics - wood 7
• Alternate timbers for packing cases
• Wood bending - Coconut wood
• Bamboo properties before, during and after flowering -
• Computer assisted wood identification
• Wood handicraft - traditional and alternate timbers

3. Dendrochronology and wood quality

4. Xylarium

Ongoing Research Programmes

1. Anatomical approach to evaluate treat ability of timbers.

2. Evaluation of strength properties of the wood and wood products in use by using ultrasonic method.

3. Utilization of Bambusa bambos (L.) and Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) as an alternative of wooden dunnage pallets

4. Comparative study of clones of Eucalypts and Acacia hybrid for handicraft sector.

5. Enhancing dimensional stability and durability of wood for flooring application by eco-friendly thermal processing.

6. Effect of treatment with micronized copper preservative on the strength, treatability and durability of selected wood species.

Completed Research Projects

1. Studies on acoustical behaviour of plantation timbers for musical instruments and wall paneling.
2. Investigations on tree ring analysis of certain species in Western ghats to monitor climate changes and its relevance to wood quality.
3. Study of Anatomy and properties of lesser known timbers of North-eastern States of India with particular reference to Nagaland.
4. Processing and evaluation of plantation grown Simaruba glauca DC from Orissa.
5. Detection of natural and biological defects in timber by non-destructive testing techniques.
6. Studies on utilization aspects of plantation grown Acacia mangium Willd. from Orissa.
7. Evaluation of wood quality of Eucalyptus clones and plantation grown Gevillea robusta A. Cunn. based on spiral grain.
8. Evaluation of culm quality before, during and after flowering in bamboo (Bambusa bambos, Dendrocalamus strictus) species.
9. Studies on fracture mechanics in solid wood and wood composites using acoustic emissions.
10. Assessment of wood quality of Tectona grandis (teak) clones from Thithimathi (Karnataka) and Andhra Pradesh.
11. Characterization and identification of imported timbers available in the timber markets and sea ports.
12. Evaluation of wood quality parameters of plantation grown Eucalyptus citriodora for different end uses.
13. Assessment of wood quality of Simarouba glauca for its timber value.
14. Use of sonic and ultrasonic testing techniques to evaluate wood strength of plantation species - A non-destructive test method.
15. Assessment of wood quality (Anatomical) of 8-10 year old Acacia auriculaeformis and Acacia mangium hybrids.
16. Study of anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of plantation grown timber Acacia mangium, A. auriculaeformis, Tecomella undulata and Eucalyptus tereticornis clones.
17. Evaluation of physical and mechanical properties of Acacia hybrids.
18. Development and popularization of packing boxes of plantation growth timbers from South India for Horticulture produces.
19. Plasticsation of palm and bamboo.
20. Wood Quality parameters for improving planting stock of Bambusa arundinacea, dendrocalamus strictus and Pseudooxytenananthera stocksii.
21. Production of reconstituted wood products/wood composites-laminated veneer lumber (LVL) from different plantation grown timber species and to study their different physical and mechanical properties.
22. Relationship of the wood properties of coppice plantation grown Eucalyptus species.
23. Development of software for calculating the properties- CALPRO.
24. Wood quality parameters for improving planting stock for Gmelina arborea.
25. Studies on influence of microfibril angle and spiral grains in wood on the strength properties of plantation grown timbers (Eucalyptus spp.)