Modelling of the behaviour of free water in sapwood during drying

Abstract

A stochastic three-dimensional model for the behaviour of free water in wood, which was described in Part I, is used for the simulation and analysis of some further features of wood drying. The kiln brown stain mechanism is studied and the connection to the condition of the wood surface is pointed out. Several drying rate questions and related aspects are analysed and compared with experimental results. Finally the risk of surface checking in an early stage of sapwood drying is shown theoretically.

Keywords:

• Checking
• drying rate
• kiln brown stain
• mass transfer coefficient
• microcrack
• percolation

The work presented in this paper has been financed by the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning, which is gratefully acknowledged.