Tallwood Design Institute

Cracow University of Technology Talks

Faculty from the Cracow University of Technology will visit Oregon State University to present a series of brief talks on their respective research areas, focusing on civil engineering, adhesives, durability, timber structures, and material characteristics.

Join us at the A.A. “Red” Emmerson Lab to hear from this esteemed group of researchers.

Tuesday, October 14th, 2025, 2:00 – 5:00 PM

For more information on this event, please email Lech Muszynski (lech.muszynski@oregonstate.edu)

Order of Events

2:00 Welcome & Introduction

2:30 Arkadiusz Kwiecien – Next Generation of Connectors for Protection of Timber Structures Against Earthquakes and Strong Winds

2:50 Klaudia Sliwa-Wieczorek – Polyurethane Flexible Joints as a System for Structural and Non-Structural Bonding of Timber Elements

3:10 Jaroslaw Chelmecki – Dynamic Characteristics of Timber Elements bonded by Polyurethane Adhesives Determined for Small and Large Strains

3:30 Coffee Break

3:45 Teresa Stryszewska – Influence of Sun Radiation and Salt Agents on Durability Resistance of Beech Wood-to-Polyurethane Adhesive Bones

4:05 Pawel Szeptynski – Analytical Model and Design Formulas for Adhesively Bonded Composite Beams

4:25 Konrad Kwiecien – From Medicine to Civil Engineering: How the Strict Safety Standards May Contribute to Health and Environment in Terms of New Construction Materials

4:45 General Discussion

5:00 Adjourn

Featured Event Speakers:

Arkadiusz Kwiecien

Professor, Cracow University of Technology, Civil Engineering

Research Focus: Polyurethane flexible adhesives and connections, reducing stress concentrations and of ductile properties, structural dynamics, and earthquake protection

Biography:

I developed scientifically the original method of repairing structures using polymer flexible joints and founded the FlexAndRobust System spin-off company and became its CEO. I have been developing innovative products: Polyurethane Flexible Joints (PUFJ) and Fiber Reinforced Polyurethanes (FRPU), conducting international scientific cooperation in the field of static, cyclic, and dynamic research on the use of polymer flexible joints in concrete, masonry, and wood construction, with particular emphasis on composite reinforcements. The solutions developed by my international teams have proved their effectiveness in anti-seismic engineering. I have conducted several national and international research projects. Currently, I am leading Polish scientific teams working on PUFJ and FRPU in international projects related to beech wood elements bonded with PU adhesives (NCN OPUS LAP “Diamonds”), envelopes in nearly zero energy buildings (H2020 MEZeroE), holistic design of taller timber buildings (COST Action CA20139), and durability of strengthening composites (RILEM TC 290-IMC).

Teresa Stryszewska

Professor, Cracow University of Technology, Civil Engineering

Research Focus: Durability of structural and non-structural materials, chemical resistance, diagnostics

Biography:

My research interests include the durability of mineral and organic building materials, as well as the durability of contemporary and historic engineering structures. For many years, I have also been involved in modifying cement binders to improve their resistance and durability in various operating environments. I have conducted over 100 expert opinions on the state of preservation of contemporary structures (such as cable-stayed bridges, cooling towers, and industrial chimneys), as well as historic structures, including prisoner barracks at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. For several years, I was involved in research on the autonomous and autogenous self-healing of cementitious materials, conducted as part of the RILEM committee. I also conducted microstructural studies using a scanning electron microscope, including chemical composition analysis, and FTIR spectrometry studies on the connection of wooden elements with flexible polyurethane joints. I am the author or co-author of 72 scientific publications.

Pawel Szeptnynski

Professor, Cracow University of Technology, Civil Engineering

Research Areas: Modeling of flexible adhesive layers of ductile properties, material characteristics, and theory of structural mechanics

I deal mostly with analytical modelling of elastic structures and structural elements. I have an experience regarding limit state (yield) conditions for isotropic and anisotropic elastic-plastic materials exhibiting strength-differential effect. I use Abaqus CAE for numerical nonlinear analyses, it happens also that I write my own scripts to solve certain mathematical problems (finite difference method, finite element method). Recently I’ve gained some experience in modelling of sheared lap joints and adhesively bonded composite beams. I was also involved in investigation of problems of structural optimization with the use of the Pontryagin’s maximum principle.

Konrad Kwiecien

Ph.D., ACH University of Science and Technology,

Faculty of Material Science and Ceramics

Research Areas: Microbiology and micromechanics, composite material characteristics

Biography:

My research interests focus on polymers, mostly dedicated for biomedical applications, i.e. tissue engineering, drug delivery. However, polymers of various types lay within my interest, including the ones dedicated for civil engineering. Due to the interdisciplinarity of my work, I aim to apply rigorous medical safety norms to the testing of civil engineering polymers, here polyurethanes applicable to wooden structures and their elements (e.g. CLT), to set new standards of determining their safety for human health and environment. I graduated my PhD in Materials Engineering at the Department of Biomaterials and Composites, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Krakow.

Klaudia Sliwa-Wieczorek

Ph.D. Candidate, Cracow University of Technology,

Civil Engineering

Research Areas: Timber structures, timber connections, CLT, flexible bonding

Biography:

I am a research and teaching assistant, PhD candidate, working on development of adhesive joints in timber structures, analysis of rigid and flexible adhesive joints. My research focuses on the influence of the adhesive thickness on the load-bearing capacity and stiffness of the joint, reinforcement of timber structures and joining various materials (e.g. wood-concrete, wood-steel) with the use of flexible adhesive joints. I worked as a designer and contract manager, specializing in glued laminated timber structures, having full construction licenses. I am the author and co-author of over 30 scientific publications and over 400 completed glued laminated timber structures in Poland, as well the author of technical opinions and expert reports.

Jaroslaw Chelmecki

Ph.D. Candidate, Cracow University of Technology,

Civil Engineering

Research Focus: Structural dynamics, model analysis, empirical studies, structural monitoring

Biography:

I am a member of the Accredited Building Vibration Laboratory team. My main tasks include measurements of building vibrations and analyzing them in terms of their impact on the building structure, as well as studying the effect of these vibrations on people staying in these buildings. For analysis, I use both scripts I have written myself and ready-made libraries in software languages such as Matlab, Python, and Java. I am involved in the Diamonds project, where I deal with modal analyses of wooden elements with flexible joints. My interests are focused on the use of artificial intelligence to predict vibrations in building structures.

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