TREE/e

TREE/e stands for Timber Research, Education and Engineering / Eindhoven. The name reflects the core ambition of the group: to integrate scientific research, academic education, and engineering practice in the field of timber buildings. This is important as timber plays a big role in making a more sustainable built environment.

The use of timber and other biobased building materials is growing rapidly, but instead of an evolution of timber building the current practice more looks like a revolution. Every architect and client wants to go bigger, taller, faster and cheaper. But the progress in knowledge for making these modern timber buildings is lagging behind. For a long term viable timber building industry it is essential that research and education keep track. This is where TREE/e comes in: to strengthen the knowledge on modern timber building.

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Unified approach

The design of a timber building requires a close collaboration between specialists on structures, architecture, acoustics, fire, vibrations, moisture and building technology. The same holds true for research and education. One can鈥檛 only concentrate on a specific discipline, as there are many dependencies between all aspects of timber engineering.

This is why TREE/e aims to work in close collaboration with scientific and industry partners, in an integral effort with architects, fire engineers, acoustical engineers, vibration experts, contractors and material specialists.

In TREE/e we focus on Timber. A beautiful, sustainable, strong and lightweight building material.

The first component, Research, emphasizes the development of new knowledge on topics such as moisture behaviour, durability, vibrations, fire safety, and circular construction.
The second component, Education, highlights the strong connection with teaching, ensuring that students are trained with the latest insights and prepared for the growing role of timber in construction.
Finally, Engineering reflects the practical application of this knowledge in real projects, bridging the gap between academia and industry.

OUR RESEARCH TOPICS

Durability and decay

Timber performs well when kept dry, but moisture exposure can cause decay. As buildings grow taller and more complex, durability must be addressed at material, component, and system level. Hygrothermal modelling, monitoring, and performance-based design are key tools. The goal is not just preventing decay, but managing systemic risk to ensure long-term safety and performance.

Shrinkage and swelling

Timber absorbs and releases moisture, causing dimensional changes. While these effects are well understood at the material level, their implications become more critical as structural elements increase in size and as buildings grow in height and complexity. The construction phase conditions are also important, as elevated moisture contents can lead to subsequent shrinkage once the building is enclosed and conditioned.

Vibrations

Timber floors require interdisciplinary engineering to ensure occupant comfort. Excessive vibrations are a key serviceability concern, influenced by modal mass, stiffness, damping, and natural frequency. Research investigates human perception of vibrations from walking and other activities. The aim is to develop better predictive tools and practical solutions for comfortable, lightweight timber floor systems.

Robustness

Structures must resist not only predictable loads but also unforeseen events like fire, explosions, or human error without disproportionate damage 鈥� a principle established after the 1968 Ronan Point collapse. Existing robustness strategies for steel and concrete do not translate easily to timber. New approaches are needed, especially as timber buildings grow taller and the potential consequences of structural failures increase.

Fire

As timber and biobased materials are used in larger, more complex buildings, understanding fire behaviour becomes essential. Research covers charring, load-bearing capacity during fire, and connection performance, combining experimental testing, numerical modelling, and performance-based design. The goal is to improve predictability and safety of timber structures under fire conditions.

Building systems

Future timber building systems prioritize prefabrication, modularity, and industrialized construction, shifting work from site to factory for better quality, automation, and efficiency. Research integrates structural performance with insulation, acoustics, fire safety, and comfort requirements. Digital manufacturing and modular construction are advanced to deliver scalable, high-quality solutions.

Circularity

Research on circularity aims to support a resource-efficient built environment by enabling reuse, refurbishment, and recycling of timber elements across multiple building lifecycles. Key focus areas include reversible connections, material passports, and design for disassembly, ensuring components retain value over time. Integrating circular principles into engineering practice reduces waste, extends material lifetimes, and contributes to regenerative timber building systems.

Innovation

We explore new materials, details, structural concepts, and hybrid systems that expand the possibilities of timber construction. This includes the integration of digital design tools, advanced manufacturing techniques, and performance-based engineering methods. By combining academic knowledge with practical application, we aim to accelerate innovation in timber engineering and support the development of competitive, low-carbon, and future-ready building systems.

Construction

The construction phase is crucial in making a sustainable and durable, high quality timber building. The Dutch climate doesn't allow for rain-free execution phases, especially now that our mass timber buildings get bigger and taller. We need to learn about the right measures to provide for a safe and reliable building after completion. The focus of this research will be mainly on moisture control.

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