INFLUENCE OF DRYING/CONDITIONING SCHEDULES ON STRESS DEVELOPMENT, RELIEF AND PRONG TEST

ABSTRACT

The prong test often displays ambiguous responses as shown in recent research. The objective of this paper was to learn how different drying/conditioning schedules influence the stress development/relief of lumber and therefore the prong response. During each drying/conditioning schedule, residual stress analysis was used to obtain stress levels, moisture content gradients and prong responses. The analysis of the data revealed the following: stress levels are strongly influenced by different schedules; in contrast, prong responses are only slightly influenced by different schedules. Stress levels are more effectively relieved by using a multiple- step increase of the equilibrium moisture content than a single-step increase. It is concluded that the schedule governs the final stress level. Even though differences in stress level are measurable by the slice test, the prong test does not reliably display these differences.

Keywords:

• moisture content
• slice test