IPR f2w
the face of the timber, while in piece B, they run roughly at right angles to the face. Movement
of the wood due to variations in moisture content is greatest in the plane of the annual rings.
The movement a 1 will be greater than movement b. Also, as a 2 is nearer to the condition of b,
it will move rather less than a 1. It is clear, therefore, that if a piece of timber is to be used as a
board or panel, it will move less if cut like B than like A. It should also be obvious that the
slightly varying tendency to movements on the faces of piece may lead to stresses which will
cause it to warp. Recommended moisture content for structural elements is 12–20 per cent for
doors and 10–16 per cent for windows.
p
2R
PI w 22g'
2
" is the reduction in linear and volumetric dimensions in drying of wood. Evaporation
of capillary water is not accompanied by shrinkage, the latter taking place only when hygroscopic
moisture evaporates. Because of structural non-uniformity, wood shrinks or swells irregularly
in various directions. Linear shrinkage along the fibres lies between 0.1 and 0.3 per cent, in
radial direction between 3 and 6 per cent and in tangential direction between 7 and 12 per cent.
In general, the radial shrinkage of wood is 60 percent of the tangential, and the longitudinal
shrinkage is negligible. Therefore, the volumetric shrinkage is practically 1.6 times the tangential
shrinkage.
is the capacity of wood to increase both its linear and volumetric dimensions when it
absorbs water. Swelling of wood along the length of fibres ranges from 0.1 to 0.8 per cent, 3 to
5 per cent in the radial direction and 6 to 12 per cent in the tangential direction.
r g &) is quite low. The coefficient of heat conductivity along the fibres is 1.8 times
greater than that across the fibres and averages 0.15 to 0.27 K cal/mh°C. As the bulk density of
wood increases and its moisture content decreases, the amount of air entrapped inside cavities
decreases, the effect being greater heat conductivity of wood.
g &): The velocity of sound in wood is 2 to 17 times greater than that in air and
as such wood may be considered to have high sound conductivity.
e e e X Wood is not affected by weak alkali solution but
decays in an acid medium (pH< 4).