• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2006

Three-dimensional distribution and variation of moisture content of boxed-heart square timber of Pinus densiflora was investigated to find the safe and rapid drying methods. As results, microwave-drying method could dry the boxed-heart square timber with sectional dimension of $150{\times}150mm$ under 10% moisture content (MC) within 72 hours with less surface checks, compared with hot-air drying. In case of microwave drying, the MC distribution during drying had a close relation with the initial MC distribution. In case of hot air drying, however, it was independent on the intial one except for the intial drying stage.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.762-771
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• 2017

Predicting the amount and distribution of moisture content within wood allows calculating the various mechanical dynamics of the wood as well as determining the drying time. For boxed-heart wood with a large cross-section, since it is difficult to measure the moisture content of the interior, it is necessary to predict the moisture content distribution. This study predicted the moisture movement in boxed-heart red pine timber, during high temperature drying, by using the three-dimensional finite difference method for the efficient drying process. During drying for 72 h, the predicted and actual moisture content of the tested wood tended to decrease at a similar rate. In contrast, the actual moisture content at 196 and 240 h was lower than predicted because surface checking of the wood occurred from 72 h and excessive water emission was unexpectedly occurred from the checked and splitted surface.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.121-135
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• 2020

This study aims to evaluate applicability for the continuous drying process using saturated and superheated steam for large-square timber. During drying of the boxed heart square timber, changes in moisture content were examined through the slices of the surface, inner and core layers. The results showed that there was a large moisture content difference between the surface and inner layers during saturated steam drying and between the inner and core layers during superheated steam drying. However, despite the moisture content difference between the layers, no surface check occurred, and an internal check occurred only near the pith or juvenile parts of the wood. The maximum value of the drying stress of the dried larch boxed heart square timber, calculated from the elastic strain of the slice and the tangential elastic modulus of the larch, was 1.30 MPa. The tangential tensile strength of the larch was estimated at 5.21 MPa under temperature and moisture content conditions when drying stress was at a maximum. That is, in the continuous drying process, the saturated and superheated steam did not generate a check in the surface because the drying stress of the wood did not exceed the tangential tensile strength. In further studies, the superheated steam drying conditions will need to be relaxed to suppress the occurrence of internal checks. Such studies would make the continuous drying process using saturated and superheated steam available for the drying of large-square timber.