Faculty : Centre for Diploma Studies ( CeDS )

Department : Civil Engineering

Title : MB07 WATER ABSORPTION OF WOOD

1.0 OBJECTIVE
i - To determine water absorption in wood is of practical importance since they also
affect the mechanical properties of the product.
ii - To describe the process of absorption of water, when the moisture is beyond the
fiber saturation point.

2.0 THEORY
i - A three dimensional transfer of moisture through the wood is considered.
ii - These moisture transports are controlled by transient diffusion within the wood.
The principal directions of diffusion are: the longitudinal, the radial and the tangential
with the principal diffusivities DL, DR and DT.
iii - The diffusivities are constant, as they are found from experiments.
During the step of absorption, the concentration of moisture on the wood surface reaches
the equilibrium value as soon as the wood is immersed in water.

3.0 APPLICATION IN INDUSTRIES

Wood is exposed to periodic water absorption processes. In residential buildings and
in industrial applications some of the components are often of wood or wood based. The
ability of microorganisms to attack wood depends on the moisture content of the wood
cell wall.

4.0 EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

i - The five varieties of wood ( teak, beechwood, mango, jackfruit & ain )
Faculty : Centre for Diploma Studies ( CeDS )
Department : Civil Engineering
Title : MB07 WATER ABSORPTION OF WOOD

ii - Bucket

iii - Water

iv - Filter paper / paper towels

v - Digital weighing balance

Faculty : Centre for Diploma Studies ( CeDS )
Department : Civil Engineering
Title : MB07 WATER ABSORPTION OF WOOD

5.0 PROCEDURES
i - Wood samples were cut in cuboid shape with approximate length, breadth and
thickness of 50 mm, 40 mm and 20 mm, respectively.
ii - Label each container for the type of wood it will contain.
iii - All the wood samples of five varieties were placed in a container containing
water to obtain absorption data.
iv - Before commencement of the experiment, initial moisture content of samples was
determined.
v - At certain time intervals the samples were taken out of the container and
superficially dried on a filter paper to remove surface water.
vi - The samples were then weighed to determine moisture uptake.
vii - The samples were put back in the container, and the process was repeated until
moisture content became stable.
viii - Initially when the moisture uptake rate was high, readings were taken at two
hours intervals.
ix - Later, when the moisture uptake rate decreased, the time interval for readings was
increased.
x - The moisture content determination method in accordance with IS: 22157-1.
xi - The moisture content was determined by the following formula.
Faculty : Centre for Diploma Studies ( CeDS )
Department : Civil Engineering
Title : MB07 WATER ABSORPTION OF WOOD

6.0 DATA
Table 1 : Moisture Content observations of wood

DAY AIN TEAK JACKFRUIT MANGO BEECHWOO

D

1 22.07 % 12.93 % 15.02 % 37.33 % 20.36 %

2 32.29 % 21.56 % 30.21 % 64.00 % 32.64 %

3 34.97 % 26.74 % 35.22 % 73.00 % 39.33 %

4 37.65 % 29.32 % 41.98 % 80.00 % 43.41 %

5 41.51 % 34.50 % 45.32 % 82.66 % 47.48 %

6 41.51 % 35.35 % 46.99 % 85.33 % 47.48 %

7 42.32 % 37.94 % 48.75 % 85.33 % 50.16 %

8 43.18 % 40.53 % 50.33 % 89.33 % 50.16 %

9 44.01 % 42.26 % 53.75 % 92.00 % 54.24 %

10 44.01 % 43.99 % 55.51 % 93.33 % 56.92 %

11 46.69 % 46.58 % 58.85 % 97.33 % 56.92 %

12 46.69 % 46.58 % 58.85 % 97.33 % 58.15 %

13 46.69 % 48.29 % 58.85 % 97.33 % 59.54 %

14 46.69 % 48.29 % 60.60 % 97.33 % 59.54 %

15 46.69 % 50.87 % 60.60 % 100.00 % 62.23 %

16 46.69 % 51.73 % 60.60 % 100.00 % 62.23 %

17 48.53 % 53.46 % 62.36 % 100.00 % 63.46 %

18 48.53 % 54.31 % 62.36 % 102.66 % 64.91 %

19 49.36 % 56.05 % 65.78 % 104.00 % 66.30 %

20 50.37 % 56.90 % 65.78 % 106.66 % 67.53 %

Faculty : Centre for Diploma Studies ( CeDS )
Department : Civil Engineering
Title : MB07 WATER ABSORPTION OF WOOD

21 50.37 % 57.98 % 67.37 % 108.00 % 68.98 %

22 51.21 % 60.36 % 67.37 % 109.33 % 68.98 %

23 51.21 % 60.36 % 67.37 % 110.66 % 68.98 %

24 51.21 % 60.36 % 67.37 % 110.66 % 73.06 %

25 52.04 % 62.95 % 72.38 % 110.66 % 73.06 %

26 52.87 % 62.95 % 72.38 % 110.66 % 73.06 %

27 52.87 % 62.95 % 72.38 % 110.66 % 73.06 %

28 52.87 % 62.95 % 72.38 % 110.66 % 73.06 %

29 52.87 % 62.95 % 72.38 % 110.66 % 73.06 %

30 52.87 % 62.95 % 72.38 % 110.66 % 73.06 %

31 52.87 % 62.95 % 72.38 % 110.66 % 73.06 %

32 52.87 % 62.95 % 72.38 % 110.66 % 73.06 %

33 52.87 % 62.95 % 72.38 % 110.66 % 73.06 %

Faculty : Centre for Diploma Studies ( CeDS )
Department : Civil Engineering
Title : MB07 WATER ABSORPTION OF WOOD

7.0 DISCUSSION
i - State the equipment to determine the compression of timber.
ii - As an engineer, give the opinion of the application of timber and concrete in
construction.
ANSWER : -
i - Compressive Machine, Five varieties of wood ( teak, beechwood, mango, jackfruit &
ain ), Vernier Caliper, Digital weighing balance and steel ruler.
ii - As an engineer, wood and concrete have been used in construction for thousands of
years and for good reason. Both materials have properties that make them appealing
building materials. Many people use cement and concrete interchangeably, but these
terms are fundamentally different. concrete is stronger than wood because concrete has
been mixed with certain materials causing concrete to last longer compared to wood
which easily collapses.

8.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

i – The moisture absorption rate was higher during the initial stage of absorption period
by slower rate in later stages.
ii – Mango had highest moisture absorption capacity while absorption capacity of ain
was lowest among five varieties of wood.
iii – Jackfruit was found to have higher shear strength among five varieties of wood.
iv - The process of absorption of water is studied by considering the three-dimensional
transfer with three principal directions of diffusion.
v - Numerical models with differences are able to describe the process of absorption
under tree direction.
vi - The validity of these models is determined by comparing the theoretical kinetics of
absorption with the experimental kinetic.
Faculty : Centre for Diploma Studies ( CeDS )
Department : Civil Engineering
Title : MB07 WATER ABSORPTION OF WOOD

vii - The profiles of moisture content evaluated within the sample are able to gain a full
model on the process.

9.0 REFERENCES
A journal article :

Laila Bennani1 , Mohamed Elkouali1 , Mohamed Talbi1 and Tarik Ainane1,2 ( 2017 ).
Modeling the Absorption Process of Water in Wood in the Transient Regime.
International Journal of Chemical Sciences.

S.P. KURHEKAR Department of Farm Structures, College of Agricultural Engineering

and Technology, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli,
RATNAGIRI (M.S.) INDIA ( 2015 ). Water absorption and desorption characteristics of
wood. International Journal of Agricultural Engineering | Volume 8 | Issue 2 | October,
2015 | 244-247.

American Wood Council (AWC). National Design Specifications (NDS) for Wood
Construction with Commentary and NDS Supplement, Leesburg, VA, 2018.

Naik, B.L., Abhilash, M.S., Kishor, K., Anand, B. and Kripashankar, M.S. (2013). Effect
of moisture absorption on mechanical properties of wood reinforced polymer matrix
composites. Internat. J. Engg. & Technol., 2(7) : 23-25.

Kouali M, Vergnaud JM. Modeling the process of absorption and desorption of water
above and below the fiber saturation point. Wood Sci Tech. 1991;25:327-39.
Faculty : Centre for Diploma Studies ( CeDS )
Department : Civil Engineering
Title : MB07 WATER ABSORPTION OF WOOD

Gerhards, C.C. (1998). Effect of moisture content and temperature on the mechanical
properties of wood: An analysis of immediate effects. 34 pp.

Fredrikson, M. (2010). Methods for determination of moisture conditions in wood

exposed to high moisture levels. Lund Institute of Technology Division of Building
Materials. 25 pp.

Kouali M, Bouzon J, Vergnaud JM. Process of absorption and desorption of water in a

wood board, with 3- dimensional transport beyond the FSP. Wood sci tech.
1992;26:307-21.