Digital Image Correlation (DIC) Method for Detecting Strain in Wood Drying Process

Stress and strain monitoring is of great significance for wood drying. Using digital image correlation (DIC), this study measured displacement and strain changes during wood drying in real time. The results showed that when wood is dried below the fiber saturation point, the difference of the radial and tangential shrinkage ratio gradually increased. An analysis of tangential and radial shrinkage ratio revealed that in the early stage of drying, the tangential and radial shrinkage ratio was relatively flat; in the middle stage of drying, the shrinkage ratio began to gradually increase; and in the later stage of drying, the tangential shrinkage ratio was approximately twice as large as that in the radial direction. Further, regarding the tangential and radial strain distribution, the radial strain distribution was more scattered than that in the tangential direction. The radial strain distribution exhibited compressive strain on both ends of the specimen, and the tensile strain was in the center. The tangential strain distribution was tensile strain on the left side of the specimen and compression strain on the right. Overall, DIC is stable and reliable, and it can be used to monitor well the stress and strain changes during wood drying.