Monitoring the Wood Drying Process with an Image Processing System (I) : Drying Characteristics of Tree Disk of Black Locust

Acquisition of precise information on drying characteristics of wood is indispensable for the improvement of drying schedules and wood quality. Recognition of the exact moisture content at which drying defects such as checks occur during drying with given drying conditions may be essential to reduce drying losses. In this study an image-processing system was combined with a laboratory-scale wood dry kiln for experiments and the surface of tree disk of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) was monitored to investigate the behavior of check formation over all the drying process. This system showed good potential for improving drying schedules and wood product quality.