Determination of Change in Moisture Ratios of Some Woods during Air-Drying by Finite Element Analysis

In this study, change of moisture distribution in wood is analyzed by finite element technique. Diffusion of moisture during drying and conduction of heat can be defined by Fourier law. Due to this similarity, heat conduction module is used to estimate the moisture diffusion. Ansys version 12 is used in modeling. Network is created with 2 dimensional link 32 elements. For modeling, the wood types which we know their moisture diffusion coefficients from earlier studies are selected. The properties of a panel having the dimension of 50x1000x1000 mm are used. Moisture diffusion coefficient under fiber saturation point is assumed as constant. Air-drying of wood plates having 40% moisture content in an environment having 10% moisture content is modeled.