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Construction Materials And Testing2D

Wood and Timber - Theory & Concepts

Structure, properties, defects, and preservation of wood as a construction material.

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Wood Moisture & Shrinkage

Adjust initial and final moisture content (MC) to simulate wood dimensional shrinkage below the Fiber Saturation Point (FSP $\approx 30\%$).

Initial MC30%
Oven-Dry (0%)Green (>30%)
Final MC10%
Oven-Dry (0%)Green (>30%)
Max Shrinkage Coeff. ($S_0$)6.0%
Stable Wood (2%)Unstable Wood (12%)
Fiber Saturation Point (FSP): Moisture held within wood cell walls. Only water lost *below* the FSP causes cell shrinkage and dimensional changes.

Timber Shrinkage

Wood board showing dimensional shrinkage under moisture loss
Shrunk by 4.0%

Dimensional Change

St=S0(MCiMCf30)S_t = S_0 \left( \frac{MC_i - MC_f}{30} \right)
St=6.0(301030)S_t = 6.0 \left( \frac{30 - 10}{30} \right)
St=4.00%S_t = 4.00\%