Novel approaches in mitigating the shortcomings ofaustralian hardwoods in external coated product, and bonded structural product applications to reflect the needs of the Australian timber industry

This thesis provides outcomes that advance mitigating shortcomings of using timber in the architectural and building industries by using a traditionally scientific research-led design approach. It firstly introduces and evaluates novel approaches to mitigating ultraviolet-light damage plus stagnant water accumulation, through combining automotive clear-coatings and super-hydrophobic coatings, combined with research-derived design geometry. It also demonstrates the development of a process for applying of a novel scientific bond-enhancing technology that for the first time increased the bond strength of the Victorian Ash timber species, resulting in full-scale commercial implementation for the ability of manufacturing of structural beams/columns from bonded timber.