| Hints for Writing Prompts | If you provide a prompt that asks for the definition of a concept for engineering students, you will receive a more detailed, academic definition with references, whereas if you provide a prompt in lay language, asking for the difference between four products, the response will use simpler language, suitable for a general audience (although still include links to sources). |
| Example Prompt 1 |
I’m teaching a course for engineering students on mass timber construction. Can you create a handout that defines each of the following concepts/products and explains the differences between them?
|
|
Output (Copilot)
|
Sure, here is a brief overview of each concept: 1. Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)123: CLT is a large-scale, prefabricated, solid engineered wood panel. It is lightweight yet very strong, with superior acoustic, fire, seismic, and thermal performance. A CLT panel consists of several layers of kiln-dried lumber boards stacked in alternating directions, bonded with structural adhesives, and pressed to form a solid, straight, rectangular panel. CLT panels consist of an odd number of layers (usually, three to seven,) and may be sanded or prefinished before shipping1. 2. Nail-Laminated Timber (NLT)4567: NLT, also known as nail-lam, is a century-old construction material that is undergoing a design renaissance. To create NLT, dimension lumber is placed on edge with individual laminations mechanically fastened together with nails or screws4. The boards are nominal 2x, 3x, and 4x thickness. Width is typically 4-12 inches4. NLT’s revival is due in large part to domestic availability4. 3. Glued-Laminated Timber (Glulam)8910: Glulam is a structural material manufactured through the union of individual wood segments. When glued with industrial adhesives (usually Melamine or Polyurethane resin adhesives), this type of wood is highly durable and moisture resistant, capable of generating large pieces and unique shapes8. Glulam is used for columns and beams, and is holding up the T3 building in Minneapolis11. 4. Structural Composite Lumber (SCL)12131415: SCL is a family of engineered wood products created by layering dried and graded wood veneers, strands or flakes with moisture-resistant adhesive into blocks of material known as billets, which are subsequently resawn into specified sizes12. SCL includes laminated veneer lumber (LVL), parallel strand lumber (PSL), laminated strand lumber (LSL) and oriented strand lumber (OSL)12. The key differences between these materials lie in their manufacturing process and their structural properties. CLT is made by gluing together layers of timber with each layer oriented perpendicular to the one below it, which gives it structural rigidity in two directions11. On the other hand, in Glulam, all the layers are oriented in the same direction, making it more suitable for elements where structural strength is required in just one direction16. NLT is similar to other SCL except that it consists of flakes (much like OSB). For comparison, LVL is made from multiple layers of veneers bonded together13. SCL is a term used to encompass the family of engineered wood products that includes LVL, PSL, LSL and OSL15. 1 apawood.org 2 en.wikipedia.org 3 awc.org 4 thinkwood.com 5 rdh.com 6 natural-resources.canada.ca 7 naturallywood.com 8 archdaily.com 9 en.wikipedia.org 10 pubs.ext.vt.edu 11 treehugger.com 12 apawood.org 13 us.sfs.com 14 pubs.ext.vt.edu 15 cwc.ca 16 siga.swiss 17 cive.com 18 ash.com.au 19 en.wikipedia.org |
| Example Prompt 2 |
Try this alternative prompt using an AI tool of your choice to generate a simpler explanation, which may actually be preferable! Can you help me understand the differences between
|