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Internal moisture evolution in timbers exposed to ambient conditions following kiln drying

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Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the changes of internal moisture content distribution within hem-fir timbers after kiln drying while exposed to two different local outdoors seasonal conditions. Timbers were dried to three different target moisture contents (12, 17, and 22 %) and thereafter, they were conditioned outdoors in two diverse seasonal coastal environments, namely, cold-wet wintertime and warm-dry summertime. Moisture contents at quarter-point and the center in depth were continuously monitored for a period of 3 weeks. The results showed that no significant moisture content reductions took place during the cold-wet season equalization, while moisture content differences were regularly reduced regardless of seasonal conditions. In addition, below 2.5 % differential moisture content, moisture movement between at quarter-point and the center slowed down regardless of seasonal condition or current moisture content level. At high drying target moisture content of 22 %, moisture content values both at quarter-point and the center remained constant after 2 weeks at moisture content difference value of 2.5 %, and no further drying or no further moisture content equalization were observed after that point.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wood Science, The University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Nohara Wada & Stavros Avramidis

  2. FPInnovations, Forintek Division, 2665 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1W5, Canada

    Luiz C. Oliveira

Authors
  1. Nohara Wada
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  2. Stavros Avramidis
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  3. Luiz C. Oliveira
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Correspondence to Stavros Avramidis.

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Wada, N., Avramidis, S. & Oliveira, L.C. Internal moisture evolution in timbers exposed to ambient conditions following kiln drying. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 72, 377–384 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-014-0792-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-014-0792-x

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