Abstract

In an attempt to develop a real-time measurement technique for an internal stress perpendicular to grain in the radial direction of rubberwood lumber during drying and conditioning, a novel design of a force measuring device, consisting of a restrained half-sawn specimen and a restrained free shrinkage specimen, was constructed. The measured force was verified with a differential released strain obtained from the conventional McMillen slice technique. The device was then employed to investigate the internal stress evolution during drying and conditioning of rubberwood lumber. It was shown that the force measured using the device strongly correlates with the differential released strain. The extents of the internal stress characteristics such as the maximum tensile and compressive forces and the reciprocal of time at stress reversal obey the Arrhenius equation and the adapted equation of sorption for the temperature and humidity dependences, respectively. The results also indicate that cooling under relatively high humidity after drying improves the internal stress relaxation process during conditioning. Possible application of the technique in kiln drying of rubberwood has been demonstrated. The measured force could be used as controlling parameter for an adaptive wood drying control system taking into account real-time material response of wood during drying and conditioning. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.