Mechanical behaviour of birch ( Betula Pubescens ) wood under high temperature drying

Abstract

High temperature drying is employed to reduce the drying time of sawn wood. However the deterioration in mechanical properties associated with it seems to be a major limitation of its use in the seasoning of some wood species. As in conventional drying, both the modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture increase with decreasing moisture content. High temperature drying does not seem to constitute a meaningful threat to the mechanical properties of this species and hence its use is strongly recommended. The low effect of high temperature drying on this species strongly reinforces the results of the previous studies on other species that the effect of this technique is both species and property dependent.