Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Wood’s hygroscopicity causes it to shrink and swell in response to changes in ambient humidity, which impact its performance in service. This study aimed to elucidate the hygro-deformation behavior of wood by conducting a two-dimensional visualization analysis of intra-ring transverse shrinking and swelling of Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.]. By combining digital image correlation with Greenhill theory, off-axis deformations were measured and analyzed, demonstrating the method’s capacity to visualize intra-ring dimensional changes. The predicted radial and tangential deformations, derived from off-axis measurements, aligned closely with experimental values. The two-dimensional analysis revealed significant differences in hygro-deformation between earlywood and latewood: earlywood exhibited a “peanut shell” like strain distribution, with most shrinking and swelling occurring in the tangential direction, whereas latewood displayed a nearly circular strain distribution with reduced anisotropy. These findings provide a basis for understanding the deformation behavior of rift-sawn boards and offer valuable insights for optimizing wood processing, drying, and dimensional stability control.
Source: Holzforschung
DOI: 10.1515/hf-2025-0034
Authors: Wendi Wang, Fengze Sun, Yizhou Chen, Rui Li, Hui Peng, Jianxiong Lyu, Tianyi Zhan
Institution: Nanjing Forestry University
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid:
Award: G4765780079
OpenAlex ID: W4412150131