Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Liquid water absorption in dried Norway spruce timber measured with CT scanning and viewed as a percolation process

  • Original
  • Published:
Wood Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Liquid flow in dried wood is complicated to study, since wood is a nonhomogeneous, hygroscopic-porous, anisotropic material. However, liquid flow is important to understand, since it has an influence on the durability of wood and on such processes like impregnation, drying, surface treatment, etc. In this study, simulations of liquid water absorption in wood as a fibre network, percolation, were compared with experimental water absorption in the longitudinal direction in spruce timber. With CT scanning, water distribution during liquid flow can be shown visually and measured by image processing. Liquid water absorption in end grain of spruce was measured with CT scanning after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days of liquid water absorption and shown as moisture content (MC) profiles in heartwood and sapwood. It was found that the amount of water absorbed could be expressed as a linear function of the square root of time. The slopes of the lines differed between sapwood and heartwood and also varied depending on the growth condition of the trees. The simulations according to the percolation method show generally good agreement with the measured results for sapwood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  • Comstock GL, Côté WA Jr (1968) Factors affecting permeability and pit aspiration in coniferous sapwood. Wood Sci Technol 2:279–291

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Côté WA, Krahmer RL (1962) The permeability of coniferous pits demonstrated by electron microscopy. Tappi 45(2):119–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Danvind J, Synnergren P (2001) Method for measuring shrinkage behaviour of drying wood using digital speckle photography and X-ray computerized tomography. In: Proceedings of 7th international IRO wood–drying conference, Tsukuba, Japan, 9–13 July 2001, pp 276–281

  • El Kouali M, Vergnaud JM (1991) Modeling the process of absorption and desorption of water above and below the fiber saturation point. Wood Sci Technol 25:327–339

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson D, Sehlstedt-Persson M, Morén T (2006) Effect of heat treatment on capillary water absorption of heat treated pine, spruce and birch. In: Proceedings of 5th IUFRO symposium wood structure and properties ‘06’, Sliaă- Sielnica, Slovakia, 3–6 September

  • Kowalski SJ, Musielak G, Kyzioł L (2002) Non-linear model for wood saturation. Transp Porous Med 46:77–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krabbenhoft K, Damkilde L (2004) Double porosity models for the description of water infiltration in wood. Wood Sci Technol 38:641–659

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kühne H, Leukens U, Sell J, Wälchli O (1970) Investigations on weathered wood surfaces—part 1: scanning E-M obs. on mold-fungi causing grey stain. Holz Roh- Werkst 6:223–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liese W, Bauch J (1967a) On the closure of bordered pits in conifers. Wood Sci Technol 1:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liese W, Bauch J (1967b) On anatomical causes of refractory behaviour of spruce and Douglas fir. J Inst Wood Sci 4(19):3–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindgren O (1985) Preliminary observations on the relationship between density/moisture content in wood and X-ray attenuation in computerised axial tomography. In: Proceedings of the 5th NDT of wood symposium, Pullman, Washington, USA

  • Lindgren O (1992) Medical CT-scanners for non-destructive wood density and moisture content measurements. Doctoral thesis, Luleå University of Technology, Division of Wood Technology, Skeria 3, SE-931 87 Skellefteå, Sweden. Thesis No. 1992:111D

  • Longuetaud F, Mothe F, Leban JM, Mäkelä A (2006) Picea abies sapwood width: variations within and between trees. Scand J For Res 21:41–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metzger T, Tsotsas E, Prat M (2007) Pore-network models: a powerful tool to study drying at the pore level and understand the influence of structure on drying kinetics. In: Tsotsas E, Mujumdar AS (eds) Modern drying technology, vol 1, Computational tools at different scales. Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany

  • Nikolova PS, Blaschke H, Matyssek R, Pretzsch H, Seifert T (2009) Combined application of computer tomography and light microscopy for analysis of conductive xylem area in coarse roots of European beech and Norway spruce. Eur J For Res 128:145–153. doi:10.1007/s10342-008-0211-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nyrén V, Back E (1960) Characteristics of parenchymatous cells and tracheidal ray cells in Picea Abies (Karst). Svenska papperstidning och Svensk pappersförädlingsskrift 63(16):501–509

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyström J, Öhman M (2002) Measurement of green plank shape for prediction and elimination of compression wood. Scand J For 17(4):377–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olsson T, Megnis M, Varna J, Lindberg H (2001) Study of the transverse liquid flow paths in pine and spruce using scanning electron microscopy. J Wood Sci 47:282–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petty JA (1972) The aspiration of bordered pits in conifer wood. Proc R Soc Lond 181:395–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Philips EWJ (1933) Movement of the pit membrane in coniferous wood, with special references to pressure treatment. Forestry 7:109–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter K, Sell J (1992) Untersuchung der kapillaren Transportwege in Weißtannenholz. Holz Roh- Werkst 50:329–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenkilde A, Arfvidsson J (1997) Measurement and evaluation of moisture transport coefficients during drying of wood. Holzforschung 51:372–380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salin J-G (2008) Modelling water absorption in wood. Wood Mat Sci Eng 4(3/4):102–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandberg K (2002) Influences of growth site on different wood properties in Spruce sap-/heartwood using CT-scanner measurements. In: Proceedings of the fourth workshop connection between forest resources and wood quality: modelling approaches and simulation software ≫ organized by IUFRO Working party S5.01–04 Harrison Hot Springs Resort Harrison Hot Springs, BC Canada, 8–15 September 2002

  • Sandberg K (2006) Modelling water sorption gradients in spruce using CT scanned data. N Z J For Sci 36(2/3):347–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheepers G, Morén T, Rypsta T (2007) Liquid water flow in Pinus radiate during drying. Holz Roh- Werkst 65(4):275–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SCION CORPORATION (2005) “Scion image”. Scion corporation, 82 Worman’s Mill Ct. Suite H, Frederick 21701

    Google Scholar 

  • Sepúlveda P, Oja J, Grönlund A (2002) Predicting spiral grain by computed tomography of Norway spruce. J Wood Sci 48(6):479–483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stamm AJ (1946) Passage of liquids, vapours and dissolved materials through softwoods. United States Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin No. 929

  • Stamm AJ (1967) Flow of fluids in wood. Wood Sci Technol 1:122–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stauffer D, Aharony A (1992) Introduction to percolation theory. Taylor & Francis Ltd, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Virta J, Koponen S, Absetz I (2006) Modelling moisture distribution in wooden cladding board as a result of short-term single-sided water soaking. Build Environ 41:1593–1599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wardrop AB, Davies GW (1961) Morphological factors relating to the penetration of liquids into wood. Holzforschung 15(5):129–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiberg P (1995) Moisture distribution changes during drying. Holz Roh- Werkst 53(6):402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zabel RA, Morrell JJ (1992) Wood microbiology: decay and its prevention. Academic Press, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Norrskogs Forskningsstiftelse—NFS, the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems—VINNOVA, the Swedish Forest Industries Federation—Skogsindustrierna and the Swedish Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning—FORMAS for supporting this work. Thanks to Vindeln’s Experimental Forest for helping select the trees and for help with the field work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SP Trätek, Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Skeria 2, 931 77, Skellefteå, Sweden

    Karin Sandberg

  2. Division of Wood Science and Technology, Luleå University of Technology, 931 87, Skellefteå, Sweden

    Karin Sandberg

  3. Åbo Akademi University, Åbo, Finland

    Jarl-Gunnar Salin

Authors
  1. Karin Sandberg
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jarl-Gunnar Salin
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karin Sandberg.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sandberg, K., Salin, JG. Liquid water absorption in dried Norway spruce timber measured with CT scanning and viewed as a percolation process. Wood Sci Technol 46, 207–219 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0371-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0371-1

Keywords