Modeling the kinetics of moisture adsorption by wood

Summary Modeling of the kinetic of moisture adsorption by wood has been studied by using cubic samples. The model is based on an explicit numerical method with finite differences. Experiments have been carried out either for determining the data necessary for calculations (diffusivity, amount adsorbed at equilibrium) and for testing the validity of the model. Two different experiments have been done in case of the longitudinal adsorption: the one by increasing the relative humidity of the atmosphere following a discontinuous step by step process. The other by determining the kinetic adsorption of moisture by samples previously equilibrated under the same conditions when they are contacted with atmosphere at various R. H. Good correlations are obtained between calculated values and experiments in both cases. Although the actual paper is concerned with constant diffusivity, the model is capable to use concentration-dependent diffusivities.This work has been done with the help and support of the French C.T.B. (Wood Technical Center), 10 Av. St.-Mandé, Paris     

General laws of wood deformation and rheological propertions of hardwood

Summary Characteristic features of wood deformation under loading at changing moisture contents (temperature) are discussed on the basis of results from rheological tests with hardwood. General laws of deformation in wood as a result of various cyclic effects of loading as well as of temperature and moisture content have been established. These laws have been used to solve the problem of the plane stress state in lumber when dried by using the method of finite elements. To control internal stresses and for an effective drying process, it is suggested that differential shrinkage should be measured, i.e. the difference between the displacements of points on Both verges of the board's edge and in the centre of the edge.Presented at the Meeting of the European-African Group of IAWS with the topic Structure and Utilization of hardwoods, Banska Bystrica, CSSR, September 9–11, 1975.     

The variable parameter rheological model of wood

How to establish the rheological model to simulate creep behavior of wood and wood-based composites under change-load has not been solved in research of wood rheology. This paper presents a new model—variable parameter rheological model. The bending creep behavior of small clear poplar specimens under different constant load levels were examined. The load levels within 50% of rupture load of the specimens, and the experimental creep behavior were simulated by the variable parameter Maxwell model. The results show that using only one model of variable parameters may simulate the creep behavior of wood under different constant load levels very well. Applying the generalized Boltzmanns superposition principle, the variable parameter rheological model can be used to simulate the creep behavior of wood under change-loads conveniently and accurately.     

A global rheological model of wood cantilever as applied to wood drying

In the process of wood drying inevitable stresses are induced. This often leads to checking and undesired deformations that may greatly affect the quality of the dried product. The purpose of this study was to propose a new rheological model representation capable to predict the evolution of stresses and deformations in wood cantilever as applied to wood drying. The rheological model considers wood shrinkage, instantaneous stress–strain relationships, time induced creep, and mechano-sorptive creep. The constitutive law is based on an elasto–viscoplastic model that takes into account the moisture content gradient in wood, the effect of external load, and a threshold viscoplastic (permanent) strain which is dependent on stress level and time. The model was implemented into a numerical program that computes stresses and strains of wood cantilever under constant load for various moisture content conditions. The results indicate that linear and nonlinear creep behavior of wood cantilever under various load levels can be simulated using only one Kelvin element model in combination with a threshold-type viscoplastic element. The proposed rheological model was first developed for the identification of model parameters from cantilever creep tests, but it can be easily used to simulate drying stresses of a piece of wood subjected to no external load. It can therefore predict the stress reversal phenomenon, residual stresses and maximum stress through thickness during a typical drying process.     

The modelling of time-dependant deformation in wood using chemical kinetics

Summary The development of rheological models to predict creep has led to the derivation of quite complex equations that can predict creep reasonably accurately. However, these models are conceptual and are not based on a fundamental understanding of the actual deformation processes occurring within the material. The concept of modelling creep using a chemical kinetic approach is one that attempts to understand creep in wood at a molecular level and, from this, to develop models that more accurately predict creep deflections.This paper presents two models developed from chemical kinetic theory, that describe the time-dependant deformation of wood. The validity of applying these models to experimental data has been assessed by stress relaxation tests on thin samples of Sequoia sempervirens. Two stages of experimentation were carried out. In stage 1, both models were applied to the results of stress relaxation tests on 6 samples. Similar values of activation energy and activation volume were calculated by both models and a single energy barrier was found to dominate the deformation process.In stage 2, the effect of varying the initial applied stress on activation energy and activation volume was assessed by carrying out stress relaxation tests at stress levels of 25%, 30% and 35% of the short-term strength. Values of activation energy and activation were found to increase as the applied stress level decreased.Both models describe the time-dependent behaviour of wood well, however their ability to predict long-term creep deflections may be limited. Future work will develop these models further in order to improve long-term creep prediction and then apply them to the results of both creep and stress relaxation tests at a variety of stress levels and moisture contents in order to test their validity.     

Nondestructive testing method of wood moisture content based on a planar capacitance sensor model

For our research, a new hybrid experimental-computational method is presented. We applied a least squares fitting     

An irreversible thermodynamics model for unsteady-state nonisothermal moisture diffusion in wood

Summary A model that predicts heat and moisture transfer through wood in the hygroscopic range and which is based on the principles of irreversible thermodynamics, was evaluated with unsteady-state nonisothermal moisture desorption experimental data. The model predicted the phenomenon of thermal diffusion during the initial stages of desorption and results in a very good simulation of the desorption curve and the center's temperature change with time.Symbols C_p specific heat of air (= 0.24 cal/g K @ 70 °C) - C_T specific heat of wood, cal/g K - D transverse diffusion coefficient, cm²/s - E_b activation energy, cal/mol - E_o heat of vaporization, cal/mol - E_L differential heat of sorption, cal/mol - G specific gravity of wood - H relative humidity, % - h_T convective heat transfer coefficient, cal/cm² s K - h_c convective mass transfer coefficient based on the concentration of moisture in wood, cm/s - h_v convective mass transfer coefficient based on the concentration of moisture in the air in equilibrium with the wood surface, cm/s - K_M coefficient for diffusion due to moisture gradient, g/cm s % - K_T transverse thermal conductivity coefficient, cal/cm K s - M moisture content, % - P_o saturated vapor pressure, atm - R universal gas constant, cal/mol K (= 82.056 cm³ atm/mol K) - t time, s - T temperature, K - x distance, cm Greek Letters evaporation or condensation criterion - wood density, g/cm³ - _W water density (=1), g/cm³ - _a air density, g/cm³ Department of Wood Science and Forest Products Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blackburg, Virginia 24061-0503     

A model of moisture movement in wood based on water potential and the determination of the effective water conductivity

Summary A model of isothermal moisture movement in wood during drying using the gradient in water potential as the driving force is proposed. The moisture transport coefficient used in this model is the effective water conductivity. It is a function of moisture content, temperature, and direction of flow. The boundary desorption curve of the effective water conductivity function is established in the radial and tangential directions of aspen sapwood from nearly saturated to dry conditions at 20, 35, and 50 °C using the instantaneous profile method. The results show that the effective water conductivity increases exponentially with moisture content and temperature. The effect of temperature cannot be solely explained by the variation of the viscosity of water. The variation of the moisture content-water potential relationship with temperature would explain a large part of this effect. The effective water conductivity was generally higher in the radial direction than in the tangential direction in a ratio varying from 1/1 to 25/1 depending on moisture content and temperature. The flux-gradient relationship obtained at given moisture contents were found to be linear, confirming the validity of the model for the experimental conditions considered in the present work.The authors wish to thank Peter Garrahan of Forintek Canada Corp., Ottawa for his comments and suggestions. This research was undertaken while the senior author was a grant-holder from the Fonds pour la Formation de Chercheurs et l'Aide à la Recherche, Gouvernement du Québec     

A microwave applicator for on line wood drying: Temperature and moisture distribution in wood

Summary An especially designed open microwave applicator was analysed using wood as the material to be heated and dried. The idea was to develop an on line microwave construction consisting of several small open applicators, each fed by a small standard magnetron (for example 1.4 kW main power). The process was analysed by measuring the wood temperature during heating using an IR-camera and detecting the moisture distribution during drying by CT-scanning. Pine and birch wood samples were used in the experiments, mainly 40 mm in thickness. The experiments show that the power distribution differs between dry wood and moist wood. The analysis of the temperature fields captured by the IR-camera during the first minutes allows a rather accurate determination of the MW power. Consequently, the drying proceeds unevenly in the wood specimens, especially in the longitudinal direction. The dimensions of the applicator and its relation to the wood dimension are very important. However, the wood was not destroyed, the temperature and moisture gradients did not affect the wood in terms of checks or deformations. The drying rate in different positions of the specimen varied between 0.30 and 0.80 percentage moisture content/min. The uneven energy, meaning temperature and field distribution, is to be compensated in the future by a moving wood load and by alternating the position of each applicator in a larger scale microwave pilot plant. Received 25 February 1997     

A new method for nondestructive evaluation of solid wood moisture content based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

This paper presents a new method to determine the moisture content of solid wood based on the principle of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The study investigates the theoretical relationship between X-ray wavelength and mass attenuation coefficients of wood, water, and reference substance. In accordance with this relationship, a theoretically obtained equation is proposed to calculate the moisture content in wood. The proposed equation is compared to experimental results using small blocks of sugi wood, which showed that the change in mass attenuation coefficient of wood with X-ray tube voltage increased with increasing moisture content as expected from the theoretical equation. A regression equation for moisture content estimation was determined based on the experimental results, and the standard error of estimate in the 0–120 % dry-basis moisture content range using the regression equation was determined to be 21.9 % with the most appropriate pair of tube voltages, 15 and 40 kVp. The accuracy of the method will be improved by reducing the duration of X-ray radiography and by increasing the disparity between paired tube voltages. This method has the potential to determine moisture content of solid wood using X-ray without oven-drying or assuming oven-dry density.     

Application of a thermodynamic model to experiments on nonisothermal diffusion of moisture in wood

Summary Five series of nonisothermal diffusion experiments originally analyzed by two theoretical equations were reanalyzed using a model derived from irreversible thermodynamics.     

Test of an equation for nonisothermal moisture transport in wood

Summary Reported moisture and temperature distributions in wood exposed to a temperature gradient under conditions of zero flow were used to compute changes in moisture content per change in Kelvin temperature, dm/dT. Corresponding theoretical values were calculated from a model based on nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Comparison of the measured and theoretical values supports the notion that moisture transport in wood can be modeled successfully with thermodynamic methods.     

Physical and mechanical properties of wood after moisture conditioning

Some properties of wood (hinoki:Chamaecyparis obtusa) moisture-conditioned by an adsorption process from a dry state and by two desorption processes (from a water-saturated state and from a state with a moisture content slightly below the fiber saturation point) were investigated. The moisture contents of wood conditioned by the adsorption process and by the desorption process continued to approach to one another for the moisture-conditioning period of over 50 weeks. Accordingly, sorption hysteresis should be regarded as a transitional phenomenon that occurs during the process of approaching the true equilibrium, which requires a long time. The wood conditioned by the desorption process beginning from a water-saturated state showed slightly smaller dimensions than those conditioned by the adsorption process with the same moisture content; however, the wood conditioned by the desorption process from a moisture content below the fiber saturation point showed slightly larger dimensions than those conditioned by the adsorption process. The wood conditioned by the adsorption process from a dry state showed a higher modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture than did the wood conditioned from a water-saturated state with the same moisture content. The mechanical properties of the wood also varied based on the states at which the desorption process was started. This is a notable characteristic of the relation between the drying condition and the mechanical properties of wood.     

木材含水率测定方法的比较研究

为修订国家标准“CB1931—80木材含水率测定方法”提供依据,本文对含树脂和挥发性物质较多的马尾松等5种木材,采用烘干法、真空干燥法和蒸馏法进行含水率测定的比较。结果表明,烘干法简便实用,但所测得的含水率结果比真空干燥法和蒸馏法为高,如果试样含有较多的挥发性物质,应用烘干法测定含水率误差偏大时,可采用真空干燥法。     

Hygroexpansion of wood during moisture adsorption and desorption processes

In order to investigate the shrinking and swelling behavior of wood at a non-equilibrium state, the moisture sorptlon processes of wood under constant and changing conditions were studied. For the static sorption experiment, Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata） specimens were subjected to the adsorption processes at 25℃, 10 different relative humidity environments and the moisture contents were measured at distinct time intervals of adsorption processes. For the dynamic sorption experiment, the specimens were exposed to periodically and linearly varying relative humidity between 45% and 75% at 25℃. Moisture content as well as radial and tangential dimensional changes in response to the changing relative humidity were measured. The main results from the experiments indicated that： the moisture sorption isotherms of Chinese fir at equilibrium state and different stages of adsorption processes could be characterized by S-shape curves. From the non-equilibrium state to the equilibrium state, the sigmoid moisture sorption isotherms changed from smooth, gradually increasing values to a steep rise at 100% humidity. Furthermore, under dynamic conditions with a constant temperature and a linearly and periodically varying relative humidity, the moisture content as well as radial and tangential dimensional changes of the specimens generally waved but lagged behind the relative humidity change.     

Classification of the conductance of moisture through wood cell components

This study aimed to clarify the conductance of moisture through wood cell components. Moisture diffusion coefficients were determined from three models (Stamm, Siau, and Kang et al.) and cell wall, pit, and ray dimensions were experimentally observed in a wood specimen. Fractions of moisture diffusing along each path in each of the models were analyzed. As moisture content decreased, the fraction of water diffusing as bound water through cell walls in tangential and longitudinal directions decreased while water vapor diffusion through lumens and pits became more dominant. Diffusion coefficients predicted by each model were compared with experimental values. Although predicted values differed from experimental values, predicted trends for diffusion rate dependence on moisture content were similar to the experimental results. In particular, the models of Stamm and Kang et al., which consider moisture transport through rays and pits, show a very consistent trend for transverse diffusion, which is always faster radially than tangentially. Input of more accurate dimensions of cell walls and cavities into the models should result in more reliable values, closer to the experimentally determined diffusion coefficients.     

基于高斯-马尔可夫随机场的木材表面纹理分类

阐述了高斯-马尔可夫随机场模型的基本原理,建立了木材表面纹理的2-5阶高斯-马尔可夫随机场(Gauss-MRF)模型,用最小二乘法估计了300个木材样本表面纹理的2-5阶Gauss-MRF参数。数据分析表明,各不同纹理特征参数之间具有明显的分布性;Gauss-MRF参数值最大的参数所表示的纹理集聚方向为纹理的主方向;对于纹理主方向相同的样本,纹理越细致,其相应参数越大,而其他参数越小;Gauss-MRF阶数越高,纹理描述越细致;在2阶Gauss-MRF模型情况下,弦切纹理的B1参数大于径切纹理的B1;弦切纹理的B2、B3、B4分别小于径切纹理的B2、B3、B4。根据分离判据的值,确定以5阶Gauss-MRF参数为特征向量进行初步聚类,总体正确率为88%。     

Effect of moisture content on fatigue behavior in the non-linear region for wood

Summary For oven-dried wood applied non-linear deflection, the temperature rising AT was constant after the initially slight temperature rising, and then arose immediately before fatigue failure. Moreover, there was not the rapid reduction of dynamic stress as observed for moist wood. On the other hand, the process to fatigue failure for various moist wood depended upon the moisture content. For heating vs. moisture content, the heating increased with moisture content up to 13 to 20%, while it decreased gradually above 20%. The processes to fatigue failure at more than 13% moisture content were similar to one another. These results were explained on energy balance between the heating due to flexibility of moist molecules in wood substances and the energy consumption for moisture movement and vaporization. The present results supported the mechanism of fatigue behavior in the non-linear region which was proposed in the previous report.