Modeling of Transient Moisture Diffusion in Wood below the Fiber Saturation Point

Abstract

During the last two decades the macroscopic formulation of moisture transport in wood below the fiber saturation point has motivated many research efforts. From experiments the difference in steady-state and transient transport processes is well known, but could not be explained in a fully physically motivated manner. In the following article, first the microstructure of wood is depicted, followed by a description of the physical background of steady-state and transient transport processes in wood, and thereon based mathematical formulations. For a correct macroscopic description of transient transport processes, three coupled differential equations have to be solved in parallel, which is done using the finite element method. The validation of the whole model by comparison of model predictions with experimentally derived values is currently in progress and will be published in near future.