PROFILE

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Forestry Institute: School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand Title of the thesis: Selecting and/or processing wood according to its processing characteristics.

Master of Technology (Futures Studies and Planning) Institute: School of Futures Studies and Planning, Devi Ahilya University, Indore, India

Master of Science (Physics) Institute: Devi Ahilya University, Indore, India

Bachelor of Science Institute: Vikram University, Ujjain, India

Research Activities

Research Interests:
Wood quality characterization
Wood drying
Wood polymer composites
Wood modification

Research Expertise

Wood Quality Assessment and Property Enhancement

Projects

Studies on drying characteristics of plantation timbers in dehumidifier drying kiln. Funded by ICFRE, Project cost : INR 0.1 million

Current Research Projects:

Principle Investigator, Studies on influence of microwave treatment on drying characteristics and treatability of wood, supported by ICFRE, Project cost INR 0.36 millions

Main Investigator of a sub-project “Studies on Seasoning and Preservation of Bamboos” (Financial outlay – INR 1.25 millions) under the project, “An integrated approach of bamboo improvement: Propagation, agroforestry models, protection, processing and utilization” approved by National Bamboo Mission, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.

Co-investigator; Development of Bamboo filled thermoplastic composites; Funded by National Mission on Bamboo Applications, Govt. of India. Project cost: INR 2.1 million.

Co-investigator, Effect of particle size and their distribution on mechanical properties of wood-polymer composites; Funded by ICFRE, Project cost: INR 1.5 million.

Publications

Details of Research Papers Published in National/International Journals:

Chauhan S.S., K. Entwistle and J.C.F. Walker, 2007, The relationship between internal stress and acoustic velocity in Eucalypts, Holzforschung 61: 60-64.

Ajay Karmarkar, S. S. Chauhan, Jayant M. Modak and Manas Chanda. 2007, Mechanical properties of wood–fiber reinforced polypropylene composites: Effect of a novel compatibilizer with isocyanate functional group. Composites Part A 38: 227-233.

Pankaj Aggarwal, S. S. Chauhan and S. Viswanath, (2007): Growth strains in 12-year old plantation of Tectona grandis, Journal of Indian Academy of Wood Science, Vol4(1&2): 18-23

Chauhan S. S. and J.C.F. Walker. 2006, Variations in acoustic velocity and density with age, and their interrelationships in radiata pine. Forest Ecology and Management: 229:388-394.

Chauhan S. S., N. K. Upreti and Anil Sethy, 2006, Drying behaviour of some plantation grown timbers in forced air drying, Journal of Ind. Academy of wood Science Vol 3(1): 62-67.

Chauhan S. S., Ajay Karmarkar and Pankaj Aggarwal, 2006, Evaluation of dynamic elastic properties of wood-polypropylene composites, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol 102:1706-1711.

Carter P., S. Chauhan and J. Walker, 2006, Sorting logs and lumber for stiffness using Director HM200, Wood and Fibre Science, 38(1):49-54.

Chauhan S.S., K. Entwistle and J.C.F. Walker, 2005, Differences in acoustic velocity by resonance and transit-time methods in an anisotropic laminated wood medium. Holzforschung, 59: 428-434.

Bradley A, S.S Chauhan, J. Walker and P. Banham. 2005. Using acoustics in log segregation to optimise energy use in thermo-mechanical pulping. Appita J. 58(4): 308-313.

Chauhan S.S., and JCF Walker, 2004, Relationships between longitudinal growth strain and some wood properties in Eucalyptus nitens. Australian Forestry 67(4):254.

Nagaveni H.C., G. Vaijayalakshmi and S. S. Chauhan, 2005, Decay resistance of esterified and oligoesterified rubber wood (Hevea brasiliensis), Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 17(4): 462-473.

Chauhan S. S. and H.C. Nagaveni, 2005, Moisture adsorption behaviour of rubber wood decayed by white and brown rot fungi, IRG Documents IRG/WP 05-40306.

Aggarwal P. K., S. S. Chauhan and A. Karmarkar. 2006. Growth strains in Acacia auriculaeformis trees of different age; their relationship with growth rate and height , Journal of Institute of Wood Science, Vol 17(4):212-215.

Chauhan S.S. and P.K. Aggarwal, 2004, Effect of moisture sorption state on transverse dimensional changes in wood. Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff, 62:50-55.

Linda C.H.Y, S. S. Chauhan, H. Lindstorm and N. King, 2003. Relationship between stemwood MOE and branchwood MOE. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 33(1):35:46

Aggarwal P.K., S.S. Chauhan, NRN Prasad and KS Rao. 2003, Water repellent treatments for catamaran grade Bombax ceiba wood. Indian Journal of Marine Science 32(4):340-343.

Aggarwal P.K., S.S. Chauhan and A. Karmarkar, 2002, Variation in longitudinal growth strains, volumetric shrinkage and modulus of elasticity and their inter-relationships in Acacia auriculaeformis, Journal of Tropical Forest Products, Malaysia. 8(2):135-142.

Aggarwal P.K., S.S. Chauhan and A. Karmarkar, 2002, Reduction of growth stresses in logs of Acacia auriculaeformis by heat treatment. Wood News 12(2): 36-39.

Nagaveni, H.C., S. S. Chauhan and K.S. Rao, 2002, Differential behaviour of Wood rotters on water repellent rubber wood, IRG Documents IRG/WP 00-10386.

Chauhan S.S., P.K. Aggarwal, A. Karmarkar and K.K. Pandey. 2001. Moisture adsorption behaviour of esterified rubber wood. Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff 59(4):250-253.

Nagaveni H.C, H.S. Ananthapadmanabha, G. Vijayalakshmi and S.S. Chauhan, 2001 Effect of chromic acid treatment on deterioration of rubber wood. Wood News. No.10 (3).

Arun kumar AN, YB Srinivasa and S.S. Chauhan, 2001, Growth ring convergence in Teak. Current Science, 83(7):808-809.

Pandey K. K., S. S. Chauhan and Pankaj K. Aggarwal. 1998. Reaction of wood with inorganic salts. Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff. 56: 412-415.

Aggarwal P. K., S.S.Chauhan, A. Karmarkar and A.K.Ananthanarayana. 1998. Distribution of growth stresses in logs of Acacia auriculaeformis. J. of Tropical Forest Products Malaysia. 4(1): 87-89

Pankaj K.Aggarwal, S.S.Chauhan, Ajay Karmarkar and A.K.Ananthanarayana. 1997. “Measurement of Longitudinal Growth Strains in Eucalyptus tereticornis by Strain Gauge Technique”. Wood News. 7 (3) : 27-30.

S. S. Chauhan, P. K. Aggarwal, A. Karmarkar and A.K. Ananthanarayana. 1997. “Water Repellency in Treated Hevea brasiliensis and Mangifera indica Wood”. Holz-als-Roh-und-Werkstoff. 55: 203-205.

S. S. Chauhan, Pankaj K. Aggarwal, Ajay Karmarkar and A.K.Ananthanarayana. 1997. “Sorption and Shrinkage Behaviour of Acacia auriculaeformis Wood”. Journal of Timber Development Association of India. XLIII(2) : 5-9.

Papers Published in Proceedings of Symposiums/Conferences:

Chauhan S. S. (2007): Knocking Bamboo: a quick method to assess the stiffness of bamboo in round form. Presented in the National Conference on Bamboos: Management, conservation, value addition and promotion held at Tropical Forest Research Institutem Jabalpur on 12-14 March 2007.

Ajay Karmarkar, S. S. Chauhan and Pankaj Aggarwal (2007): Bamboo flour filled polypropylene composites: Preparation and characterization. Presented in the National Conference on Bamboos: Management, conservation, value addition and promotion held at Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur on 12-14 March 2007.

Chauhan S. S. and Pankaj Aggarwal, (2007): Growth models for Santalum album L. Plantations presented in the National Seminar on Conservation, Improvement, Cultivation and management of Sandal (Santalum album L.) held at Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore on 12-13, December 2007.

Pankaj K. Aggarwal and S.S.Chauhan (2007): Variation in growth strain in five clones of Eucalyptus tereticornis. Presented in IUFRO All Division 5 Conference 2007 held at Taipei, Taiwan from 29th Oct to 2nd November 2007.

Chauhan S. S. (2007): Desiccant based dehumidification drying of wood, Presented in The Indo-Italian Seminar on Wood drying: Principles and Practices” held at Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore on 19th Nov. 2007.

S. S. Chauhan, (2005), Characterization and selection of wood according to end product, Presented in one day seminar on “Quality issues in Forestry and Forest products” on 20th Sept., 2005 organized by Italian Trade commission and Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore.

S. Chauhan, K.Entwistle and J. walker , (2003). “The relation between stress wave velocity and internal stresses in Eucalypts”. Presented in IUFRO- All division 5 Conference (11-15th march 2003) at Rotorua, New Zealand

Chauhan, S.S., M. Grabianowski. C.H.Y. Hsu, and J.C.F. Walker, (2003). Acoustics and stiffness of logs and wood: what is acoustics measuring? Workshop on High value products from an understanding of wood and innovative processing WTRC, University of Canterbury.

S. S. Chauhan, Ajay Karmarkar and K. K. Pandey. (1998). “Dimensional Stabilisation of Rubber Wood by Chemical Modification” Proceedings on National Seminar on “Processing and Utilisation of Plantation Timbers and Bamboo” : 164-168

S. S. Chauhan and Pankaj K. Aggarwal. (1998). “Wood for Lacquerware Craft and Wood Seasoning” Presented in National Seminar on “Productivity in Lacquerware Craft” on Feb. 26 1998, Sponsored by Ministry of Industry, Govt. of India and Organised by National Productivity Council, Bangalore.

Pankaj K. Aggarwal, Ajay Karmarkar and S. S. Chauhan. (1998). “Measurement of Growth stresses in South Indian Plantation Grown Species using Improved Strain Gauge Technique” Proceedings on National Seminar on “Processing and Utilisation of Plantation Timbers and Bamboo” : 267-273.

Pankaj K. Aggarwal, D. P. Khali, S. S. Chauhan and C. R. Rangaswamy. (1997) “Contribution of Agroforestry in Upgradation of Socio-economic Status of Rural People : A Case Study”. Read at 2nd IUFRO Working Party Symposium on Forestry Extension : Science and Practices for the 21st Century (7-12 Sept 1997) at Nairobi, Kenya.

Pankaj K. Aggarwal, S. S. Chauhan and Ajay Karmarkar. (1997). “Growth Stress in Plantation Grown Timbers and its Relevance to Wood Utilisation”. Presented in International Workshop on “Forestry Research in Conservation of Forests” during April 25-26, 1997 organised by ICFRE Dehradun.

S. S. Chauhan. (1995). “Fuelwood Crisis in India : A System Dynamic Model.” Presented in Sixth National Coference on “Planning for Sustainable Development - System Dynamics Approach” during April 6-8, 1995, at National Environment Engineering and Research Institute (CSIR), Nagpur.

Book Chapters:

Shakti Chauhan, Robert Donnelly, Chih-Lin Huang, Ryogo Nakada, Yin Yafang and John Walker. Chapter-5: Wood Quality- In Context, In “Primary wood processing” by J.C.F. Walker, 2006. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp 121-155.

Shakti Chauhan, Robert Donnelly, Chih-Lin Huang, Ryogo Nakada, Yin Yafang and John Walker. Chapter-6: Wood Quality- Multifaceted Opportunities. In “Primary wood processing” by J.C.F. Walker, 2006. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp159-202.

Technical Bulletins/Reports/Popular articles:

Final Technical Report on “Studies on drying characteristics of plantation timbers in dehumidifier drying kiln” by S. S. Chauhan submitted to ICFRE in April 2007.

“Associations between acoustic velocity, MoE and wood density” by Shakti S. Chauhan and John Walker, a report (confidential) prepared for Wood Quality Initiatives Limited, New Zealand.

“A rapid and non-destructive technique for estimating growth strains in tree and logs” by P.K. Aggarwal, A. Karmarkar, S.S. Chauhan and A. K. Ananthanarayana A technical bulletin published by Institute of Wood Science and Technology Bangalore.

Achievements

Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Fellow at School of Forestry, University of Canterbury, Christchurch in 1995 from August to October, 1995.

Recipient of Gold Medal from Devi Ahilya University, Indore, India for securing the highest position in order of merit among postgraduate students in the university in the year 1991.

Secured the highest position in order of merit in Master of Technology degree.