Auswirkungen kurz- und langzeitiger Luftfeuchteschwankungen auf die Holzfeuchte und die Eigenschaften von Holz

Effect of short and long-term humidity variations on the moisture content and properties of wood.

Wood and wood composites adapt their moisture content to the environmental climate. The moisture content is an important parameter, since it significantly influences all properties of wood. Short-term as well as long-term moisture changes may cause damage of structural elements, furniture, or cultural heritage. This paper reports long-term laboratory measurements of moisture in glulam beams and infrared-measurements of the surface moisture content. The results show that the moisture content in large-sized samples equilibrates after a long-term period. However, in practice this would not be the case, since the environmental climate varies. This would lead to stresses and in extreme cases to damage of the material. The measurements of the surface moisture content yield equilibrium after one hour.