Wood, like many natural materials, is hygroscopic; it takes on moisture from the surrounding environment. Moisture exchange between wood and air depends on the relative humidity and temperature of the air and the current amount of water in the wood. This moisture relationship has an important influence on wood properties and performance. Many of the challenges of using wood as an engineering material arise from changes in moisture content or an abundance of moisture within the wood.

This course discusses the macroscopic physical properties of wood with emphasis given to their relationship with moisture content. Some properties are species-dependent; in such cases, data from the literature are tabulated according to species. The course begins with a broad overview of wood–water relations, defining key concepts needed to understand the physical properties of wood.

Topics: Wood–Moisture Relationships Moisture Content and Green Wood Fiber Saturation and Maximum Moisture Content Water Vapor Sorption Liquid Water Absorption Dimensional Stability Density and Specific Gravity Thermal Properties Thermal Conductivity Heat Capacity Thermal Diffusivity Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Electrical Properties Friction Properties Nuclear Radiation Properties Additional References

Publication Source: USACE