YOGYAKARTA- The diversity of tropical wood in Indonesia is extraordinary. It is unfortunate that many of us have not seriously explored the potential, particularly for construction This has motivated Dr. Ali Awaludin, lecturer of Civil Engineering UGM, to examine the behaviours of wood extension with static burden and cyclic burden such as earthquakes.
His research on frictions influence on wood extension with bolts, the Japan Wood Resarch Society (JWRS) has granted Ali as one of two recipients of the JWRS Progress Award 2009. The presentation was made on 17 March in Miyazaki, Japan, in conjuction with the 60th annual gathering of its members. Ali is currently a post-doctoral fellow for two years at Hokkaido University on grants from JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science).
“JWRS progress award is an award for young researchers for their writings that have contributed to the wood research,” Ali said in a release on Thursday (15/7).
On his research, Ali said that frictions in wood extension give a positive effect on wood behaviours. This has been proven through static testing and shake table testing. He wrote about that research in Wood Science Journal in 2008. In 2008, I wrote two other writings. One was on the practical ways to calculate the strength of wood extension with bolts. Secondly, I investigated the effect of frictions on wood extension for one year.
Ali said that frictional damping caused by frictions between wood elements when having cyclic burden is one of the additional explanation on the general belief that wood construction can behave very well during earthquakes. Through small log home model, he conducted some testing on the shake table about the effect of frictional damping on the vibration velocity level that can be sustained by the model. Its monlith ability with minimum damage can be increased if friction mechanism between the home elements is improved.
“We socialised this research at the International Wood Symposium in June 2009 in Istambul,” Ali Awaludin said. Prior to his doctoral degree at Hokaido, Ali Awaludin earned his master degree at Chulalongkorn University. His interest in wood behaviour emerged when he worked in Wood Engineering Laboratorium of Faculty of Agriculture, and Structure Engineering and Bridge Laboratorium of Hokaido University. By the end of September, Ali will finish his post-doctoral course and return to UGM and continue his duty as lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering.