Numerical analysis of drying induced stresses in timber: An orthotropic model

Abstract

A numerical method for the analysis of drying induced stresses in capillary porous bodies is presented. The potential of the method is illustrated by an application to the problem of timber drying. In particular, the phenomenon of stress reversal, whereby surface stresses change from tension to compression and stresses at the centre change from compression to tension, is successfully modelled. The orthotropic nature of timber is modelled by the inclusion of orthotropic elasticity parameters and an orthotropic yield surface. Predictions from the numerical model show good qualitative agreement with the expected behaviour of timber during drying.