Content (Syllabus outline)
- Wood as a hetero capillary system – free or capillary and bound or hygroscopic water;
- Density and porosity of wood;
- Moisture content and distribution of moisture in fresh wood – typical radial moisture content profile; wood water relation - fibre saturation point, equilibrium moisture content, sorption isotherms, sorption hysteresis;
- Anisotropic shrinkage and swelling of wood, movement of wood, dimensional stabilization of wood;
- Mechanical properties of wood – elastic deformation, modulus of elasticity and rigidity, Poisson`s ratio.
- Viscoelastic deformation – creep, relaxation;
- Dynamic behavior, shock resistance and toughness
- Strength and failure of timber – determination of strength – variability; factor affecting strength – anisotropy and spiral grain, density, moisture content, temperature, time, ring width, reaction wood.
- Assessment of relevant properties of wood, wood property variations within and among trees (juvenile, adult and reaction wood).
Prerequisites
1. Entry in the corresponding year of the study programme.
2.
- Attendance at exercises and written report,
- colloquium from tutorials,
- tests.