Improved methodology of measuring moisture content of wood by a vibrational technique

A method of measuring moisture content of wood is introduced. This method uses a vibrational technique. A shaker driven by swept sine signals was used for the accurate generation of vibration. A cylindrical wood sample was used to verify the method of measuring the moisture content. Resonance frequencies of the wood sample decreased as its moisture content increased. An experiment was performed by measuring the vibration of a tree to explore the feasibility of applying the method to the measurement of the moisture content of trees. The circumferential mode, which is independent of the height of a tree, was identified using a white oak tree.     

A method for under-bark detection of the wood grain angle radial dependence

Abstract

Twist in wood, being closely related to spiral grain, may cause serious problems in building structures, furniture and joinery. It is therefore of great interest to sort out, at an early stage in the manufacturing process, trees, logs and boards that have an excess of spiral grain. The spiral grain pattern is described by a helical deviation of the fibre direction in relation to the longitudinal direction of a living tree or a log and seems to be an indicator for other defects such as compression wood. Remote microwave sensing of spiral grain has received a lot of interest during the past two decades. Its development has been impeded by the large variation with moisture content of the microwave properties of wood and by the complexity in modelling the electromagnetic field in a log with spiral grain. A review is presented of a direct method with no requirement for information on moisture content for boards. This procedure has recently been generalized to cylindrical logs and trees having a constant slope of the grain. A further generalization is presented here to allow for the normal spiral grain pattern with radially changing slope of grain in wood under bark. Based on this theory, a measurement procedure is proposed for the detection of wood grain angle with radial dependence, requiring no information on moisture content in the sapwood, which is also applicable to completely or partially frozen wood. A suitable application would be an instrument to use in the forest for measurements on living trees or logs.     

Determination of the moisture content in wood chips of Scots pine and Norway spruce using Mantex Desktop Scanner based on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

There has been a longstanding interest in developing a fast and accurate method for measuring moisture content in wood. The gravimetric method that is commonly used today is a widely accepted industrial standard but it is time consuming. In this study, we tested and evaluated Mantex Desktop Scanner that is based on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry as a potential technique for fast and accurate determination of moisture content at different temperatures in wood chips of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and a variety of mixtures thereof. The results of the study give similar results as the gravimetric method when determining the moisture content in wood. They further show that there was no significant influence on the result if samples were measured while frozen or at room temperature.     

Moisture content profiles and uptake kinetics in wood cladding materials evaluated by a portable nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer

Abstract

This study evaluated the capability of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology based on small portable magnets for in situ studies of the local moisture content in wood. Low-field and low-resolution [¹H]NMR with a unilateral permanent magnet was used to monitor and map the moisture content of wood cladding materials of various types in a spatially resolved manner. The results show that portable NMR equipment based on small open-access permanent magnets can be successfully used for non-invasive monitoring of the moisture content in various extended wood specimens. The moisture content was measured with a depth resolution of 0.2 mm and a maximum penetration depth of 3 mm. This makes the technique suitable for in situ local moisture content measurements beneath a coating layer in the cladding, for example, and it is also possible to relate the moisture level to specific properties of the wood material.     

Can the impulse propagation speed from cross-section tomography explain the conditioned density of wood?

Tomography is a wave-based technique used to depicture tree cross-sections; specifically, impulse tomography uses data given by the passage of impulse waves, which were primarily influenced by density, modulus of elasticity, and moisture content of wood. The influence of wood characteristics on various kinds of waves has been extensively studied, allowing the establishment of statistical correlations between wave behavior and wood properties. In this context, the relationship between impulse speed from cross-section tomography and conditioned density that was obtained on diametrical sample by X-ray densitometry was analyzed using logs of three tree species with different densities that were air dried to 12 % moisture content. For each species, means from 5 mm length intervals of conditioned density profile graph (ρ _12%) and impulse speed distribution graph (S _12%) on the same diametrical sample are used to fit models. Joining data from all species, the exponential model \( \ln \rho_{12\% } = - 4.32822 + 1.67894 *\ln S_{12\% } \) was obtained with correlation coefficient of 0.85 and highly significant parameters. The results indicate that conditioned density could be explained by impulse speed on the cross-section, but research is necessary to make a useful tool out of it.     

The frequency dependence of hygro-expansive scaling of oak

ABSTRACT

Fluctuations in the ambient relative humidity are often cyclic of nature, composed of a wide variety of frequencies. Variations may be as fast as one minute or as slow as a complete season. A wooden object exposed to these fluctuations exchanges moisture with the air, resulting in a change in the local moisture content of the wood. Since moisture penetration is affected by the timescale of the changes in ambient conditions, so are processes caused by moisture content variations. Moisture content variations cause dimensional changes of a wooden object, which, if mechanically restrained, lead to a buildup of stresses and ultimately to damage. It is therefore important to predict the frequency behavior of moisture content and expansion in wood. In the presented study, experiments are conducted in which the moisture content and expansion of oak cubes with different sizes is measured during sinusoidal relative humidity fluctuations with different frequencies. The amplitude in moisture content and expansion is shown to be simply scalable based on sample size only. Derived diffusion coefficients are in agreement with literature values, although the experimental frequency behavior is shown to deviate qualitatively from diffusive frequency behavior.     

Moisture conditions in coated wood panels during 24 months natural weathering at five sites in Europe

Abstract

Wood moisture content of coated panels of Scots pine sapwood was recorded during 24 months natural weathering in Vienna by logging electric resistance and temperature near the surface. Eight coating systems with various film thicknesses were used, including three solvent borne alkyd stains, three water borne acrylic stains and two water borne acrylic paints. At five sites in Europe wood moisture content of panels coated with three solvent borne alkyd stains, a brown acrylic stain and a white opaque acrylic paint was recorded weekly by changes in panel mass. Fluctuations in wood moisture content were influenced by the film thickness, water permeability and colour of the coating systems used. Degradation phenomena led to decreasing moisture protection of less durable coating systems over time of exposure. The exposure site clearly affected wood moisture content in the panels.     

异叶南洋杉人工林木材生材性质研究

为合理利用异叶南洋杉人工林木材,通过排水法、质量法和数值法对异叶南洋杉人工林的生材性质展开研究,结果表明,异叶南洋杉人工林木材树皮体积百分率、质量百分率、生材密度、基本密度和生材含水率的平均值分别为11.39%、13.78%、0.842 g/cm³、0.394 g/cm³和121.43%。随异叶南洋杉树高的增加,树皮体积百分率和质量百分率总体呈增大趋势;生材密度和基本密度总体呈下降趋势;生材含水率总体呈先升高后降低的趋势。以期为异叶南洋杉人工林木材的合理利用提供数据支持和理论支撑。     

Models for Predicting Wood Properties in Stems of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris in Sweden

To study and model the variation of wood properties, sample trees were selected from 42 Norway spruce and 20 Scots pine stands covering a wide variation in climatic and site conditions, stand maturation and tree sizes. Plot and tree measurements were followed by sampling wood from different heights in each sample tree and laboratory measurements of wood properties. Mixed linear and non-linear prediction models were developed using diameters, number of annual rings and climatic indices as explanatory variables. The variation in spruce properties explained by these variables was: basic density 50%, latewood content 52%, juvenile wood diameter 85%, heartwood diameter 94% and bark thickness 76%. The corresponding values for pine were 59, 54, 79, 92 and 85%. Random among-tree variance was an important contributor to the remaining variation for density and latewood. In general, only a minor part of the random variation was related to variance between stands. Predictions derived from the models for density and juvenile wood in both species, and heartwood in pine showed good agreement when validated with data sets from two other studies. The resulting models may be used for predicting wood properties in forest planning and in bucking computers in harvesters, provided that the essential information is available.     

Influence of coating system on the moisture buffering capacity of panels of Pinus sylvestris L.

Abstract

The indoor relative humidity in dwellings and offices is an important factor in building physics. The ability of hygroscopic materials and especially wood materials to store and release moisture helps to regulate the indoor climate naturally and to avoid extremes of humidity. In the present study, cyclic sorption experiments with coated Scots pine were performed. Materials with different coating compositions were exposed to day-to-day relative humidity changes. The moisture buffering capacity was estimated by a gravimetric method and the moisture buffer value was computed. The results show that the coating has a significant impact on the moisture buffering capacity of the underlying Scots pine. The moisture distribution in the wood sample was appraised for each coating system using a proton magnetic resonance imaging technique. This study confirmed that the dynamics of moisture exchange between the indoor environment and the wooden material during typical daily moisture fluctuations is confined to a few millimetres behind the air–wood interface.     

An improved technique for non-destructive measurement of the stem volume of standing wood

An improved technique, cheaper and less time-consuming, to measure standing wood volume by using an electronic theodolite was tested, by which greater information from the forest could be acquired accurately and non-destructively. This was achieved by recording the diameter at breast height and ground-level diameter of a tree as well as the included angle between the electronic theodolite and the left and right tangents of the stem at any point. The standing wood volume then was computed precisely by section. In addition, the factors that influence the precision of the method (observable distance and number of segments) were also analysed. In the study, 175 Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen. trees and 190 Populus tomentosa Carrière trees chosen randomly for sampling were measured with the electronic theodolite, and then were cut down for measurement of the average cross-section volume. Based on the data acquired from 100 sample trees, a standard volume table was compiled, and then the data for the remaining random 10 sample trees in each group were selected for a comparison test. The results indicated that the optimal distance for indirect observation should be as high as the sample tree, and the optimal visual distinguished section was about 2?m. The correlation coefficient between the value measured non-destructively and the value of the felled trees of L. gmelinii was 0.97, with an average relative error of 1.62%. With regard to P. tomentosa, the correlation coefficient between the two values obtained by the two methods was 0.905 with an average relative error of 8.40%. It was concluded that the standard volume model based on the non-destructive measurement technique meets the requirements for precision in forest surveys. The precision of the standard volume model for L. gmelinii (a coniferous tree) was superior to that of the model for P. tomentosa (a broad-leaved tree). The electronic theodolite method provides an alternative technique for measuring trees without destructive sampling and is widely applicable for forest surveys.     

Wood Moisture Content Measurement by X-Ray Exposure Method

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In situ measurement of wood moisture content in high-temperature steam

Changes in moisture content of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) wood during high-temperature saturated and superheated steam treatments were investigated. A system for in situ weighing of specimens was used, and the reduction of wood substance by heating was taken into consideration. At 160°C the loss of wood substance due to heating was significant and influenced the moisture content values, but it was almost negligible at 120°C. Treatment time and temperature affected the moisture content in saturated steam but not in superheated steam. Excess water in a saturated closed system appears to promote the decomposition of wood and condensation in or on specimens.Parts of this work was presented at the 49th, 50th, and 52nd Annual Meetings of the Japan Wood Research Society in Tokyo, April 1999; Kyoto, April 2000; and Gifu, April 2002     

Determination of wood moisture properties using a CT-scanner in a controlled low-temperature environment

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to examine an advanced image-processing algorithm for moisture content (mc) calculation and also to use this algorithm to analyse moisture loss data for low temperature drying. Since wood starts to shrink below the fibre saturation point during drying, the geometrical shape of the wood piece will change. The dry wood image was thoroughly transformed to the shape of the wet wood image prior to calculating the dry weight mc. The results show that the algorithm for the dry weight mc on density data from the CT-scanning during low-temperature drying in the climate chamber is a powerful tool for analysing the moisture loss inside the wood piece. This method can make it possible to get a higher quality on the product.     

湿地松样本量大小对性状遗传力估算的影响

[目的]在保证遗传力估算精确度较高的前提下,探讨对已有湿地松测定群体遗传力评估最经济有效的调查取样数量(样本量),为遗传选择提供最佳的遗传参数和选择策略。[方法]以61个湿地松22年生半同胞家系的胸径、树高等生长性状和木材基本密度、弹性模量等材性性状测定值为试验数据,利用ASReml-R软件混合线性模型的限制性极大似然估计法(REML)估算各性状在不同参试样本量下的遗传力及其标准误。通过比较分析在不同样本量下各性状遗传力及其标准误估算值的收敛性,讨论样本量对性状遗传力估算的影响,进而确定各性状遗传力评估所需的最少样本量。[结果]对于61个湿地松自由授粉家系测定林,当测定的家系数少于39个或者随机测量的单株数小于600株时,估算的遗传力极不稳定,标准误偏大,随着样本容量或家系容量的增加其精度与准确性逐渐增加;遗传力较低的性状其遗传力估计所需样本量普遍大于遗传力较高的性状。[结论]对本研究的测定群体而言,要获得精确度较高的遗传力估算值,所需测定的湿地松家系数应该大于39个或者随机测量的单株数大于600株;由于材性性状遗传力相对较高,其需要测定的样本量可相对少一些。本文为大型用材树种遗传力估算提供了一个具有参考价值的实例研究,结果及相应的研究方法对于类似遗传测定群体遗传参数估算具有参考意义。     

Application of near-infrared spectroscopy to wood discrimination

 This study deals with a new nondestructive discriminant analysis by which wood can be classified on the basis of a combination of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and Mahalanobis' generalized distance. Its accuracy and reasonability were examined for wood samples with various moisture contents ranging from oven-dried to a fully saturated free water state. In a discriminant analysis employing second derivative spectra, each wood group was well distinguished. Mahalanobis' generalized distances between softwoods are relatively independent of analytical pattern, whereas the distances between hardwoods are large for easy classification. There may be two reasons for selecting a wavelength: (1) when the chemical component of wood substance relates to the discriminant analysis; and (2) when the difference in moisture content with wood species relates to them. When we correctly construct the database of NIR spectra, confirming the purpose of the analysis, suitable wood discrimination should be possible. Received: January 23, 2002 / Accepted: March 15, 2002 Acknowledgment The authors sincerely thank the Tanabe Southeast Asia Nations Friendship Foundation for financial support. Part of this report was presented at the 51nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, 2001 Correspondence to:S. Tsuchikawa     

Evaluation of moisture content distribution in wood by soft X-ray imaging

A technique for nondestructive evaluation of moisture content distribution in Japanese cedar (sugi) during drying using a newly developed soft X-ray digital microscope was investigated. Radial, tangential, and cross-sectional samples measuring 100 × 100 × 10 mm were cut from green sugi wood. Each sample was dried in several steps in an oven and upon completion of each step, the mass was recorded and a soft X-ray image was taken. The relationship between moisture content and the average grayscale value of the soft X-ray image at each step was linear. In addition, the linear regressions overlapped each other regardless of the sample sections. These results showed that soft X-ray images could accurately estimate the moisture content. Applying this relationship to a small section of each sample, the moisture content distribution was estimated from the image differential between the soft X-ray pictures obtained from the sample in question and the same sample in the oven-dried condition. Moisture content profi les for 10-mm-wide parts at the centers of the samples were also obtained. The shapes of the profiles supported the evaluation method used in this study. Part of this work was presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Hiroshima, August 2007     

Magnetic resonance imaging of moisture distribution in Pinus sylvestris L. exposed to daily indoor relative humidity fluctuations

Abstract

In contact with indoor air, wood materials have a high potential passively to reduce the indoor humidity fluctuations resulting from internal moisture loads and outdoor humidity fluctuations. This ability, characterized by the moisture buffering capacity of building materials, has attracted increasing attention within building physics, but a suitable method to appraise and quantify this phenomenon is still sought. In this study, a non-invasive spectroscopic method of accessing information about the interaction between indoor air and Scots pine was investigated. A comprehensive account is given of spatially resolved moisture absorption (desorption) into (from) Scots pine by proton magnetic resonance imaging ([¹H]MRI) based on an effective single-point imaging (SPI) sequence. SPI images of bound-water distribution in Scots pine with a spatial resolution on a sub-millimetre scale were acquired when one of the orthotropic directions of the wood material was exposed to typical indoor day-to-day moisture fluctuations. The nuclear magnetic resonance imaging measurements presented in this study clearly show the potential of the method to provide accurate spatial information about the wood–water interaction below the fibre saturation point and hence to characterize the moisture buffering capacity of wood materials.     

Characterization of viscoelastic,shrinkage and transverse anatomy properties of four Australian hardwood species

Abstract

Several key wood properties of four Australian hardwood species: Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus pilularis, Eucalyptus marginata and Eucalyptus obliqua, were characterized using state-of-the-art equipment at AgroParisTech, ENGREF, France. The wood properties were measured for input into microscopic (cellular level) and macroscopic (board level) vacuum-drying models currently under development. Morphological characterization was completed using a combination of environmental scanning electron microscopy and image analysis software. A clear difference in fibre porosity, size, wall thickness and orientation was evident between species. Viscoelastic properties were measured in the tangential and radial directions using dynamic mechanical analysis instrumentation. The glass transition temperature was markedly different for each species owing to anatomical and chemical variations. The radial direction showed higher stiffness, internal friction and glass transition temperature than the tangential direction. A highly sensitive microbalance and laser technology were used to measure loss of moisture content in conjunction with directional shrinkage on microsamples. Collapse shrinkage was clearly evident with this method for E. obliqua, but not with other species, consistent with industrial seasoning experience. To characterize the wood–water relations of E. obliqua, free of collapse, thinner sample sections (in the radial–tangential plane) are recommended.