School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences - Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Search Results
1 - 2 of 2
-
ItemShaping bamboo prior to harvest: the seasonal experimentation of growing angles and radii for a harvestable furniture concept( 2016)Construction of furniture utilising bamboo as a primary material generally relies upon linear segments which are fixed through joining methods to create the desired product outcome. While bamboo can be pliable to create a continuous shape such as an arc through the use of heat modification using compressive moulds, bamboo may also be bent during the initiation of the seasonal culm cycle through applying a pre-defined mould to the emerging culm. This method utilises the natural growth of the bamboo in order to create the desired shape. This research study aims to enquire if seasonal bamboo culms can be manipulated to form a pre-defined shape suitable for simple furniture construction. A reusable, two-part mould is devised, utilising primarily scavenged conduit materials. This conduit, with an attached, fixture offset from the emerging culm, allows the placement of the conduit around the emerging shoot. Once installed, the bamboo culm progresses through the conduit material, thereby forcefully transferring both the angle and radii onto the young culm, leaving it permanently shaped. Site installations at The University of Melbourne, Parkville campus, Melbourne Zoo, locations in Queensland, China and Japan have provided a limited test sample size, where a range of angles from 5 degrees to 65 degrees could be repeated through the seasons contained in the candidature. Repeatability of a simple ‘S’ shape bend was achieved through growing the bamboo through pipe and conduit materials. Another method of pre-harvest shaping of bamboo was also tested, through removing part of the seasonally emerging culms protective sheath, thereby destabilising the young culm, causing it to bend, thereby further removing the need for conduit materials. Accompanying the seasonal test samples, a furniture based chair concept is presented, utilising grown samples to create a design which consolidates parts in order to minimise fastening of traditionally linear sections of bamboo.
-
ItemGrowth and yield models for South Australian radiata pine plantations: incorporating fertilising and thinning( 2001)This thesis describes the development of models to predict the volume growth response of South Australian radiata pine plantations to the interaction of the silvicultural tools of thinning and fertiliser used in combination. Some years ago this issue was identified as the component of the ForestrySA yield regulation system most in need of addressing and as a result a large thinning and fertiliser experiment was established. This was designed to determine whether a thinning and fertiliser interaction existed and to enable this interaction to be modelled. At the time it was established it was believed to be the only experiment of its kind in the world and this still appears to be the case. The thinning and fertiliser interaction models described in this thesis were designed to integrate with the models already implemented in the ForestrySA yield regulation system so that more precise predictions of future log availability can be provided, and improved management decisions can be made. Three sets of component sub models are described which operate at a stand level to: • predict the total volume growth of the main crop between the time of fertilising and the next thinning, approximately seven years hence; • predict the total volume growth of the portion of the stand which will be thinned (known as the thinnings elect) at the next thinning, between the time of fertilising and the next thinning; • predict the annual volume growth response of the stand between the time of fertilising and the next thinning. Further research is described to identify the data sets that are likely to be required for future analysis and revision of the South Australian growth and yield models. Adopting the future research recommendations will ensure that the consideration of the financial and economic benefit of alternative silvicultural prescriptions is broadened to include a more diverse range of sites and include log and wood quality considerations.