Regular Regime analysis and moisture diffusivity in wood

For hygroscopic materials, an improved Regular Regime (RR) anal. (W. Schoeber, 1976) can be used for detn. of moisture diffusivities dependent on moisture content. The diffusivities as functions of moisture content were derived from a single desorption expt. using a compact and streamlined calcn. procedure. Because of its higher stability, the power law approach was recommended. It was suggested that an increasing stability and reliability of the diffusivities requires a large no. of data points with a high resoln., esp. at lower drying rates. Drying of the same wood species obtained by the stationary flux method were different from those obtained by the RR method. It was postulated that the obsd. differences might be caused by phys. phenomenon on the microscopic level. The results are applicable in the drying of wood and other porous construction materials. [on SciFinder (R)]