Characteristics of the Radio-Frequency/Vacuum Drying of Heavy Timbers for Post and Beam of Korean Style Housings Part I : For Japanese larch round logs with 150 mm and 210 mm in diameter and 2,500 mm in length

Abstract

The characteristics of radio-frequency/vacuum drying Japanese larch boxed heart round logs with 150 mm and 210 mm in diameter and 2,500 mm in length, subjected to compressive loading, after the pretreatment of kerf were investigated. The results of this study were as the follows: The drying time of about 120 hours~130 hours was needed from green to about 15 percent of moisture content. The gradient of final moisture content for all specimens was very gentle in both longitudinal and transverse directions owing to dielectric heating. The surface checks seriously occurred although the occurrence extent of surface check for the kerfed specimens was slight compared with that for the control specimens because drying stress was relieved by kerf. The occurrence of surface checks for the L-specimen was more serious than that for the S-specimen.