Areas of Research

Dr. Lacroix is primarily interested in studying the behaviour of mid- and high-rise wood structures subjected to extreme loading (e.g. earthquake, blast, impact). His expertise is in the structural and dynamic performance of wood systems under blast and impact loading, strengthening and retrofitting of wood structural elements using fibre reinforced polymers (FRP), and modelling of wood members under high strain rates. His research interests also include the structural performance of lateral load resisting systems in mass timber buildings, modern and innovative timber connections, resilient design of structures, and evaluation of timber members and engineered wood products at low and high strain rates.

Specific Research Interests

• Timber design 

• Earthquake engineering 

• Blast and impact engineering 

• Dynamic behaviour of timber and timber-hybrid structures to impact and blast loading 

• Mitigation of hazards associated with wood structures under extreme loads 

• High strain rate effects on wood properties 

• Strengthening and retrofitting of wood structural elements using fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP) 

• Performance of traditional and modern timber connections 

• Multi-hazard resilience of timber and timber-hybrid structures 

• Material performance and evaluation 

• Development of innovative wood and wood-hybrid structural products