Study of the release in water of a chemical used for preservation of wood. Effect of the dimensions of the wood

Summary Various chemicals are used for protecting wood samples against fungi, and some of them are released in water, leading to pollution of the water. The kinetics of release of pentachlorophenol in water has here been studied, by considering the diffusion through the wood along the three principal axes of diffusion. The experiments and the modelling of the process is successfully coupled. The numerical model takes the three principal diffusivities, the partition factor, the volumes of wood and water into account. The effect of the length of the wood sample taken along the longitudinal axis of diffusion is especially studied, as the longitudinal diffusivity is much higher than the other two principal diffusivities. The effect of the relative volumes of wood and water is also of considerable interest not only for the concentration of the chemical in water but also for the rate of release.Symbols C concentration of liquid (g/cm³) - C_s, C_eq,t concentration of liquid on the surface, at equilibrium with the surrounding, respectively - C_i,j,k concentration of liquid in the wood at position (i, j, k) - D diffusivity (cm²/s) - h coefficient of mass transfer on the surface (cm/s) - i, j, k integers characterizing the position in the wood - K partition factor - L, R, T dimensions of the parallelepipedic wood sample - Mini amount of chemical contained in the wood at the beginning of the desorption - M_L, M_R, M_T dimensionless numbers - M_t, M amount of chemical released up to time t, up to infinite time, respectively - N half-number of slices taken in the wood parallelepiped along each dimension - V_water volume of the surrounding water - x, y, z coordinates - L, R, T thickness of the slices taken in the wood for calculation - t increment of time     

On the activation energy of diffusion of water in wood

Summary The diffusion equation for water in wood is expanded in terms of temperature and moisture gradient on the assumption that the driving force for the diffusion of water in wood is the partial pressure of water vapour. An analytic expression is then developed for the activation energy of diffusion in terms of enthalpy and entropy changes associated with the sorption process. The expression is compared with another published curve and some similarity was observed.Symbols C water concentration, kg/m³ - D diffusion coefficient for water vapour in wood with vapour pressure as the driving potential, kg/ms Pa - D_c diffusion coefficient for water vapour in wood with water concentration as the driving potential, m²/s - D_c a constant value of D_c, m²/s - E activation energy of diffusion, J/kg - F flow density, kg/m² s - f h/l - h specific enthalpy, J/kg - L l/R T - l latent heat of vapourization of free water, J/kg - l_s latent heat of vapourization of sorbed water, J/kg - p partial pressure of water vapour, Pa - p_s pressure of water vapour at saturation, Pa - R specifc gas constant for water, J/kg K - r relative humidity - s specific entropy, J/kg K - w dry basis moisture content - x length coordinate, m - a constant temperature equal to 6,800 K - -/ln r - _w density of wood (dry mass/moisture volume) at a given moisture content, kg/m³ - s/R - L style as 2 lines above - free water relative to sorbed water The author is grateful to the Editorial Board in relation to the use of (4)     

Applications of the capillary isotherm

The effect of temperature on the capillary isotherm is accounted for in a modified derivation. Some new equilibrium moisture content data for E. regnans are presented and fitted by the capillary isotherm. Some earlier data for Klinki pine are also fitted. It is shown precisely how reductions in the shear modulus of the cell wall material with increasing temperature give rise to reductions in equilibrium moisture content for a given relative humidity.Symbols A G₀/R, K - a₁ external radius of annulus, m - a₂ internal radius of annulus, m - a_f a₂ at fibre saturation, m - a a constant length, m - B a constant of integration - b₁, b₂ temperature parameters, K^1- - G rigidity of wood substance, Pa - G₀ G for dry wood, Pa - G_f G at fibre saturation, Pa - h isosteric heat, J/kg - latent heat, J/kg - p capillary pressure, Pa - P_s pressure of water vapour at saturation, Pa - R specific gas constant for water, J/kg K - r relative humidity - r_i inflection intercept - r_t tangent intercept - T temperature, K - t temperature, °C - X see equation (18) - x see equation (28) - , , ₁, ₁ coefficients, equations (27), (37) - y₁, y₂ see equations (25), (26), K - parameter, equation (9) - parameter, equation (33) - density of water, kg/m³ - _W density of wood substance, kg/m³ - equilibrium moisture content - _0.2 at r = 0.2 - _0.5 at r = 0.5 - _0.9 at r = 0.9 - _f at fibre saturation     

Wood drying and Fick's second law

Summary The diffusion equation (sometimes referred to as Fick's second law) is derived in terms of water movement under the action of capillary forces. The mass diffusivity is thereby expressed in terms of the capillary diffusion coefficient. A numerical calculation is given for yellow poplar.Notations C diffusion coefficient for water in wood with capillary pressure as the driving force, kg/msPa - D diffusion coefficient for water in wood with moisture content as the driving force, kg/ms - F mass flux, kg/m²s - p_c capillary pressure, Pa - p_cf capillary pressure extrapolated linearly to fibre saturation, Pa - T absolute temperature, K - t time, s - x distance ordinale in the direction of flow, m - mass diffusivity, m²/s - density of liquid water, kg/m³ - _g basic density (dry mass/green volume), kg/m³ - _w density of wood substance, kg/m³ - moisture content of wood - _cls moisture content at continuous liquid saturation - _cs moisture content at complete saturation - _f moisture content at fibre saturation     

On movement of water through wood — The diffusion coefficient

Summary It is demonstrated that there can be only one driving potential for the movement of water through wood and this will be a function of wood state. On the assumption that the driving potential is the partial pressure of water vapour, a theoretical expression is derived for the diffusion coefficient. Such expression is fitted to diffusion coefficients for Scots pine and a remarkably good fit is obtained.Symbols a reciprocal mean radius of curvature of a capillary meniscus; also taken to be the radius of the corresponding exposed liquid surface, m - b spacing between flow paths in the cell wall, m - D diffusion coefficient for water in wood with vapour pressure as the driving potential, kg/ms Pa - D_a diffusion coefficient for water vapour through air, kg/ms Pa - D diffusion coefficient for water in wood with the driving potential - D diffusion coefficient for water in wood with the driving potential - D₀ diffusion coefficient for water in wood with vapour pressure as the driving potential, which is associated with leakage paths through the wood, kg/ms Pa - D_f diffusion coefficient for water in wood with vapour pressure as the driving potential, corresponding to fibre saturation and with no leakage paths, kg/ms Pa - D_c diffusion coefficient for water in wood with vapour pressure as the driving potential, which is associated with the constriction of the vapour flow as it approaches the cell wall, kg/ms Pa - D diffusion coefficient for water in wood with moisture content as the driving potential, kg/ms - diffusivity for water vapour in air, m²/s - F flux of water, kg/m² s - p partial pressure of water vapour, Pa - R specific gas constant for water, J/kg K - r fractional relative humidity - T temperature, K - x length coordinate in direction of flow, m - the dimensionless ratio D_f/D_c evaluated at r=1/e - arbitrary driving potential for movement of water in wood - cell spacing in the direction of water flux, m - density of liquid water, kg/m³ - coefficient of surface tension, N/m - arbitrary driving potential for movement of water in wood - fractional moisture content     

Study of the release in water of chemicals used for wood preservation. Effect of wood dimensions

Summary Various chemicals are used for protecting wood samples against fungi, and some of them are released in water, leading to pollution of the water. The kinetics of pentachlorophenol release in water has here been studied by considering the diffusion through the wood along the three principal axes of diffusion. The experiments and the modelling of the process is successfully coupled. The numerical model takes into account the three principal diffusivities, the partition factor, the volumes of wood and water. The effect of wood sample length along the longitudinal axis of diffusion is studied especially, as longitudinal diffusivity is much higher than the other two principal diffusivities. The effects of the relative volumes of wood and water are also of considerable interest not only for the concentration of the chemical in water but also for the rate of release.Symbols C concentration of liquid (g/cm³)_ - C _c ,C _eq concentration of liquid on the surface, at equilibrium with the surrounding, respectively - C _i,j,k concentration of liquid in the wood at positioni, j, k - D diffusivity (cm²/s) - h coefficient of mass transfer on the surface (cm/s) - K partition factor - i, j, k integers characterizing the position in the wood - M _L ,M _R ,M _T dimensionless numbers - M _t ,M amount of chemical released after time t, after infinite time, respectively - t increment of time - L, R, T thickness of the slices taken in the wood for calculation - N _L ,N _R ,N _T number of slices taken in the wood - x, y, z coordinates - V _water volume of the surrounding water     

HTST hydrolysis of wood: Modelling of the kinetics and projections on reactor configuration

Summary We present experimental data on hydrolysis of wood in high temperature short residence time (HTST) and low acid concentration conditions. Effects of temperature, acid concentration, particle size and liquid/solid ratio are discussed. A kinetic model is proposed which accounts for effects of temperature and acid concentration. This kinetic model is used to predict performance of a twin-screw extruder as a hydrolyser which consists of ideal mixed flow or plug flow reactor units in series.Symbols A Acid concentration in liquid phase - A Acid concentration in solid phase - A₀ Initial mass of sulphuric acid, g - C Cellulose content of solid phase, % - d Diameter of wood particles, m - E₁ Activation energy of cellulose hydrolysis, cal. mol^-1 - E₂ Activation energy of glucose degradation, cal. mol^-1 - F Objective function, refers to Eq. (5) - G Glucose yield - G_e Glucose yield at equilibrium - G_{i, exp} Experimental glucose yield (Eq. (5)) - G_{i, th} Calculated glucose yield (Eq. (5)) - G_max Maximum glucose yield - k^* Parameter defined by Eq. (9) - k₁ Rate constant of cellulose hydrolysis, s^-1 - k₂ Rate constant of glucose degradation, s^-1 - k ₁ ^* Apparent rate constant of cellulose hydrolysis, s^-1 - k ₂ ^* Apparent rate constant of glucose degradation, s^-1 - k₁₀ Pre-exponential factor of constant k₁, s^-1 - k₂₀ Pre-exponential factor of constant k₂, s^-1 - K Parameter defined in Table 3 - m Constant - m_g Mass of glucose produced, g - M₀ Initial mass of wood, g - M Mass of saturated steam delivered, g - M Mass of saturated steam delivered after 120 s of reaction time, g - m₀ Initial mass of water, g - n Constant - N Number of reactor units - q_i Volume flow rate in reactor units, m³ · s^-1 - r_g Conversion rate of glucose, s^-1 - R Ideal gas constant, 1.987 cal · mol^-1 K^-1 - t Reaction time, s - T Temperature, K - V_i Volume of reactor units, m³ - W Water content of wood sample, % - X, X Parameters defined in Table 3 - Y, Z Parameters defined in Table 3 - Constant defined in Eq. (4), s^-1 - v Number of experimental points (Eq. (5)) - _i Residence time in plug flow unit, s - _i Residence time in mixed flow unit, s     

Acoustic emission related to instantaneous strain in Tasmanian eucalypt timber during seasoning

Summary Acoustic Emission (AE) was measured in 30 mm-thick backsawn and quartersawn Tasmanian Oak (Eucalyptus regnans F. muell) boards drying at temperatures in the vicinity of 20 °C. By varying the diffusion coefficient used in a non-linear drying simulation program, calculated half-thickness moisture profiles were matched to measured profiles in a sample board. Once the measured and calculated drying behaviour was satisfactorily matched, the AE measured in an endmatched board closely followed the surface instantaneous strain calculated with the program. The AE activity increased once the surface instantaneous strain attained the proportional limit. The AE is not simply related to drying temperature or humidity but rather to a complex interaction between the two parameters.Symbols c_a Moisture concentration in air (kg/m³) - c_s Moisture concentration at the board surface (kg/m³) - D Diffusion coefficient (m²/hr) - DBT Dry bulb temperature (°C) - e_i Instantaneous strain - RH Relative humidity (%) - WBT Wet bulb temperature (°C) - Basic density (kg/m³) The author is pleased to acknowledge the assistance of Emeritus Professor A. R. Oliver, Associate Professor P. E. Doe, University of Tasmania, the Australian Furniture Research and Development Institute and the Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board     

The thermodynamics of sorption with reference to klinki pine

Summary An investigation into the bonding energy relationships for water in wood indicates that as the temperature increases at constant total moisture content, water moves from within the chemical structure to the adsorption surface. The analysis is evaluated for the wood Araucaria klinkii Lauterb and it is indicated that at 25 °C, less water is held in the chemical structure during adsorption than during desorption.Symbols A amplitude of liquid surface profile - A₀ amplitude of solid surface profile - a mean radius of curvature of liquid surface (bubble radius), Å - a₀ mean radius of curvature of solid surface, Å - a_c a constant value of a, Å - F a function of temperature - f capisorption energy fraction - G a function of - g specific Gibbs free energy of saturated water vapour relative to unsaturated water vapour at the same temperature, J/kg - g_c specific Gibbs free energy associated with capisorption, J/kg - g_p specific Gibbs free energy associated with physisorption, J/kg - h change in specific enthalpy of liquid water as it is desorbed, J/kg - l latent heat of vaporisation of free water, J/kg - m wave number/m - p_s pressure of water vapour at saturation, Pa - R specific gas constant for water vapour, J/kg K - r relative humidity - s change in specific entropy of liquid water as it is desorbed, J/kg K - T temperature, K - w dry basis moisture content - x ln p_s/p_s25 - y In r - z length coordinate, m - , , constant coefficients - change in mean height of liquid surface, Å - ₀ a constant length, Å - constant - distance from solid to liquid vapour interface measured normal to solid surface, Å - ₀ a constant value of , Å     

Chemical treatment of wood for musical instruments. Part I: acoustically important properties of wood for the Ranad (Thai traditional xylophone)

The purpose of this study is to determine the important acoustic properties of wood for making Ranad bars and the resonator box. The woods used in this study were separated into two groups. The first group is the type of wood that has been used to make Ranad for centuries: Ching-Chan (Dalbergia oliveri Gamble) and Ma-Had (Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb.) for making the bars, and Ka-Nun (Artocarpus neterophylla Lamk.) out of which the resonator box is made. The second group comprises woods that are abundant in Thailand and are genetically related to the first group. The physical and mechanical properties of the woods in both groups were measured including the specific dynamic Youngs modulus (E/), density (), hardness (H), acoustic conversion efficiency (ACE), and sound refraction coefficients (||). The results revealed that high and consistent || were crucial factors of the Ranad bar properties in addition to E/, , and H. The results from measurements made on the resonator box wood revealed that high E/, ACE, and high and consistent || were its crucial properties.     

Phenomenological kinetics of wood delignification: application of a time-dependent rate constant and a generalized severity parameter to pulping and correlation of pulp properties

Summary Kraft delignification kinetics has been modelled on the basis of a first order decay process with a time-dependent rate constant. A generalized severity parameter derived from this kinetic model, R_oh, has been applied to describe the lignin solubilization during alkaline (soda and Kraft) and bisulphite pulping of different wood species. The model has been succesfuly applied to data sets available from the literature. Our approach has combined the main process variables (temperature, time and chemical load) into a single parameter, R_oh, which is then used as a reaction ordinate to map the changes in chemical composition and physical properties. An extension of the initial formulation of the R_oh parameter has been made to cover the situations where the catalytic system is composed by two active chemical species, as in the Kraft process.Symbols C Lignin concentration - C₀ Lignin concentration at t = 0. - _a Average activation energy (kJ/mol) - f_i Conversion of the reacting substrate (lignin) - F[ ] A function of the conversion - g(E) Distribution of activation energies function - k(t) Time-dependent rate constant - K Severity model constant - R_oh The generalized severity parameter, or reaction ordinate - S _i ⁰ Initial concentration of the reactive substrate (lignin) - t Reaction time (min) - T(t) Reaction temperature (°C),which may vary as a function of time in non isothermal conditions - T_ref Reference temperature (°C), normally choosen in the middle of the experimental conditions used - X(t) Chemical load (g chemical/g o.d. wood), for the first active specie - X_ref Reference chemical load (g chemical/g o.d. wood). - Y(t) Chemical load (g chemical/g o.d. wood), for the second active specie - Y_ref Reference chemical load (g chemical/g o.d. wood) Greek Letters Constant in k(t) (min^-) - Parameter defining the shape of the Kohlrausch function which describes the distribution of activation energies - () Euler's gamma function - Parameter expressing the strength of the first active chemical in the specific reaction considered - Parameter expressing the strength of the second active chemical in the specific reaction considered - ₀ Effective lifetime (min). - /- Average lifetime (min). - Parameter expressing the importance of temperature in the specific reaction considered. For instance a value of 14.75 will indicate that the rate of reaction has doubled ten degrees above the reference temperature, all the other variables remaining constant. Authors are indebted to CICYT (Science and Technology Inter Ministerial Commission, Spanish Government) and Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Regional Government) for financial support, project number QFN92-4317 and grant number AIRE 92/I-22. Contributions of the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Fonds des Chercheurs et Actions de Recherche (FCAR) are gratefully acknowledged.     

Thermal properties of interior decorative material and contacted sensory cold-warmth I: relation between skin temperature and contacted sensory cold-warmth

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relation between the skin temperature of the palm and sensory cold-warmth after contact with some materials. Ten men and ten women were selected and introduced to 21 kinds of material for a contact test of 30 min without seeing the specimens in a climate-controlled room at 25±1C and 65% relative heemidity. The palm-contacted test materials and skin temperature of the palm, central fingertip, and back of the palm were measured during the experiment. A sensory evaluation test was applied to evaluate the contacted sensory cold-warmth. Results showed that the maximum temperature decrease of the fingertip (T _d) was positively related to the natural logarithm of the material's specific gravity (ln _u) and to the natural logarithm of the material's thermal conductivity (ln). There were also negative linear relations between the contacted sensory cold-warmth (S) with ln _u and ln; and there was a negative linear relation betweenS withT _d and betweenS with the value ofT _d by . The thermal osmotic coefficient (b) of wood and wood-based materials ranged from 3.63 to 3.97, and the materials were qualified as good thermal insulation materials. Furthermore, there was a negative linear relation betweenS andb. Accordingly, it is possible to evaluate the contacted sensory cold-warmth relying on the basic thermal properties of material.Part of this report was presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 2–4, 1999     

Electrical migration of exogenous mineral ions through green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine)

Summary The electrical migration was studied of several cations passing longitudinally through cylindrical samples of green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. under the influence of an applied electric field. This led to values for the hindered ionic conductances within the wood of the cations Li⁺, K⁺ and CU²⁺ which were compared with data obtained previously (Simons et al., 1998) for several endogenous cations. There was satisfactory agreement for the conductance of the potassium ion, the only one to be determined by both methods. Copper ions were found to possess a higher conductance within the wood than calcium or magnesium, a factor relevant to its use as a wood preservative. Visual observation of the location of the blue-green colouration produced in the wood by copper ions indicated that they migrated via longitudinal resin ducts and tracheids. Elution and transport experiments were also carried out with sapwood which had been flushed with water, Li₂SO₄ or CuSO₄ solution.Symbols E potential gradient - F Faraday's constant (96, 494 C/mol) - I current - L length of wood sample - M molarity (mol/dm³) - Q quantity of electricity - R electrical resistance - S Siemens (reciprocal ohm) - t time - u ionic mobility (velocity under unit potential gradient) - v ionic velocity - z charge number of ion - ionic conductance The authors thank SERC and Rentokil PLC for the award of a CASE Research Studentship to P.J.S. and the Leverhulme Trust for the award of an Emeritus Fellowship to M.S.     

Postbuckling of thin wood-based sandwich panels due to hygroexpansion under high humidity

This study was carried out to investigate the postbuckling behavior of thin wood-based sandwich panels under high humidity. Using the Rayleigh-Ritz method based on the von Karman nonlinear theory for the panel, the solutions for both the approximate and the closed form for postbuckling of orthotropic panels were derived to evaluate the deflection for the boundary condition of all clamped edges. The results suggested that the edge movement be considered for evaluation of a critical moisture content and deflection of thin wood-based panels fixed on the core with an adhesive. The numerical solution obtained from the derived model showed some discrepancy with the experimental results. The predicted results overestimated the center deflection of the panels because creep and plastic deformation might be caused by considerable in-plane stress on panels.Appendix: Abbreviations and symbols total potential energy of panel - A _ij ,D _ij extensional and bending stiffness, respectively - _x , _y midplane strains inx andy directions, respectively - _xy midplane shear strain inxy plane - N _x ^M , N _y ^M hygroscopic forces inx andy directions, respectively - h panel thickness - a, b panel length inx andy directions, respectively - x, y, z coordinate system - u, v, w displacement inx, y, andz directions, respectively - MC moisture content change - a _x ,a _y coefficient of linear expansion inx andy directions, respectively - LE linear expansion (MC) - s arc length - R radius of curvature - N _x ,N _y resultant in-plane forces per unit length inx andy directions, respectively - N _n nondimensional loadN _x ^M b ²/E ₂ h ³ - N _cr nondimensional critical load,N _x,cr ^M b ²/E ₂ h ³ - ratio of the core to the total width,a _c /a + a _c - E _c effective core MOE,E +E (i.e., the summation of MOE parallel to the grain and perpendicular to the grain) - h _c core thickness     

Electrical transport of endogenous mineral ions in green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine)

Summary The relative migration of the major endogenous ions (K⁺, Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Cl^– in green sapwood ofPinus sylvestris L. was measured in a modified Hittorf transference cell. The transference numbers obtained gave the fractions of the current carried by these ions when an electric field was applied across the wood samples under the conditions used.Potassium and calcium ions were always found to be the main endogenous current carriers, followed by magnesium, sodium and chloride ions. No significant differences in transference number were found between wood stored under refrigeration or in a deep freeze, nor was there any effect on prior -irradiation. Fungal contamination in a few non-irradiated specimens led to lower transference numbers. Changes in moisture content from 86 to 141% produced no significant change but the results did depend on the tree from which the samples had been taken. A decrease in the length of the wood sample from 100 to 50 mm had little effect on the transference numbers of calcium ions but caused a decrease in those of potassium when larger quantities of electricity were passed. Transversely- and longitudinally-oriented wood samples, however, gave very similar results. Visual observation of the anode compartment indicated that the ions followed the path of least resistance between cathode and anode and that the current passed along the grain of the wood.Symbols c_i molar concentration of ion i - F Faraday's constant (96 494 C/mol) - I current - t time - t_i transference number of ion i (also shown as t(i) in tables) - V volume of electrode compartment - Z_i charge number of ion i The authors thank SERC and Rentokil PLC for the award of a CASE Research Studentship to P.J.S. and the Leverhulme Trust for the award of an Emeritus Fellowship to M.S.     

The distinction between average enthalpy and the isosteric heat of water sorbed on wood; and the spatial distribution of the specific enthalpy of the sorbed water

Summary It is commonly assumed that specific enthalpy is uniform throughout water sorbed on wood. It is suggested here that this is not the case and that as a result the isosteric heat and the differential heat of wetting are two distinct functions. An analysis is developed which enables the distribution of specific enthalpy within the adsorbed water to be approximated. The results are presented with reference to klinki pine.Symbols a parameter, Eq. (14) - h specific enthalpy of sorbed water, J/kg - h average specific enthalpy of sorbed water, J/kg - h isosteric heat, J/kg - h₁ integral heat of wetting, J/kg - k a constant - l latent heat of vaporization of free water, J/kg - P_s pressure of water vapour at saturation, Pa - q differential heat of wetting, J/kg - R specific gas constant for water, J/kg K - r relative humidity - T temperature, K - enthalpy function defined in Eq. (10), J/kg - moisture content - _p prevailing moisture content The author is grateful to Dr. A. N. Stokes for a substantial simplification of the original derivation of Eq. (13)     

Wood-polymer composites from some tropical hardwoods

Summary Selected tropical hardwoods from Cameroon were impregnated with methyl methacrylate and polymerized in situ using a catalyst-heat technique. The fractional volumetric retentions of monomer and polymer were determined and expressed in terms of the fraction of voids filled by the impregnant. Of the three species tested, Movingui and Bilinga were easily treatable and therefore considered suitable for wood-polymer composites; on the other hand Sapelli was difficult to treat.Notations M Movingui - B Bilinga - S Sapelli - MMA Methyl Methacrylate - PMMA Polymethyl Methacrylate - Fvl average values of the fraction of voids filled by monomer - Fvp average values of the fraction of void filled by polyme - V_m volume fraction of impregnant - V_v void volume fraction of the unimpregnated material - m_c mass of the impregnated material - m_w oven-dry mass of the wood prior to impregnation - _w density of the wood based on oven-dry mass and volume - _m density of the impregnant - _ws density of cell wall material assumed to be 1.54 g/cm³     

Osmotic stress in wood — part II: on the computation of drying stresses in wood

Summary Plastic stress arising in wood during drying is calculated according to the theoretical model developed earlier. The mechanism of stress reversal and the type of resudual stress corresponding to different values of material constants are shown. The results are in qualitative agreement with experimental evidence.List of symbols A coefficient of swelling below the fibre saturation point - C concentration of moisture in wood; weight of moisture per weight of dry wood - C ₀ uniform concentration of moisture in wood at the beginning of drying - C ₁ equilibrium concentration of moisture at the boundary during drying - C =C-C ₁ - non-dimensional concentration - D diffusivity - D ₀ first term in the expansion of diffusivity as function of concentration: D=D ₀(1+D ₁ C+...) - D ₁ secondterm in the expansion (see D ₀) - E Young's modulus - e _ij deviator of tensor of strain: - e _ij ^P deviator of plastic strain: - e _ij ^E deviator of elastic strain - F fibre saturation point (concentration at which the function (c) changes slope) - F =F-C ₁ - g(x,t) function which assumes the value 1 in the elastic zone and 0 in the plastic zone - k von Mises' yield stress - L half width of the sample - M total moisture content - P plastic power - S _ij deviator of stress - S _kk =S ₁₁+S ₂₂+S ₃₃ - S _ij ^E =2 e _ij - T _ij tensor of stress - T _kk =T ₁₁+T ₂₂+T ₃₃ - T non-zero component of stress in a beam or plate - non-dimensional stress - actual stress rate in an elastic zone, fictitious stress rate in a plastic zone - t time - t increment of time - x y z spatial coordinates - X increment of spatial coordinate - Y - Y ₀, Y ₁ terms in the expansion of Y(C): Y(C)=Y ₀(1+Y ₁ C+...) - non-dimensional Y - , (c) coefficient of osmotic expansion (dependent on concentration) - _ij tensor of strain - _kk =₁₁+₂₂+₃₃ - =_yy=_zz non-zero component of strain in the case of a plate or beam - modified strain - elastic constants of an isotropic body - non-dimensional spatial coordinate - Poisson's ratio - non-dimensional time     

Dielectric properties of softwood species at microwave frequencies

Summary Dielectric measurements at 3 GHz were made for three softwoods, European pine, spruce and hemlock. The longitudinal, radial and tangential grain directions of the wood were considered as well as moisture contents ranging from 6% to 35%. The positive effect of the moisture content on the loss factor illustrates the selectivity of microwave drying techniques, while the observations also show that the longitudinal dielectric properties are substantially higher than the transverse ones. The specific effect of the wood species on the dielectric behaviour has to be ascribed mainly to those intrinsic characteristics of the species which influence the sorptive capacity of the wood.