Moisture Content Distribution in Cross-Section of Cylindrical Wood Components.

Area of Science:

• Wood Science
• Material Science
• Environmental Engineering

Background:

• Wood component moisture content fluctuates with environmental changes, impacting mechanical properties, stress, decay, and cracking.
• Accurate moisture content distribution calculation is crucial for wood component research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a theoretical model for wood moisture content distribution.
• To investigate the spatial and temporal variations in wood moisture content.

Main Methods:

• Hygroscopicity tests on Chinese fir thin-plate specimens in controlled environments.
• Derivation of a theoretical model based on food drying theory.
• Experimental validation of the theoretical model.

Main Results:

• Wood's average moisture content increases over time, with a slowing growth rate.
• Surface moisture reaches equilibrium rapidly, while internal hysteresis takes much longer.
• A theoretical model incorporating Bessel functions accurately predicts moisture distribution.

Conclusions:

• The derived theoretical model demonstrates high accuracy and applicability for predicting wood moisture content distribution.
• Component geometry (cylindrical vs. laminate) significantly influences moisture transfer rates.
• Understanding moisture dynamics is key for predicting wood component performance and durability.