The distribution of mechanical stresses in the cell wall of wood induced by capillary tension in the lumen water – an approximate analysis

 The phenomenon of collapse and consequent checking of certain species of timber during drying is thought to result from mechanical stresses which in turn are caused by tension in capillary-held lumen water. The cell-structure is modelled as a two-dimensional grid of cells. For a given value of the capillary tension and for a given cell wall geometry the distribution of mechanical stresses is prescribed and can be determined using the equilibrium equations of solid mechanics. An approximate solution to these equations is investigated and it is considered to give useful information with regard to potential modes of failure and the influence of otherwise imposed stresses. Received 28 September 1998