A Guide to Wood Drying, Moisture Content and Dimensional Changes
This online engineering CPD course provides an overview of wood drying, moisture content, and dimensional changes in wood materials used in construction and structural applications.
Wood is a hygroscopic material whose moisture content continuously changes in response to surrounding environmental conditions. Variations in moisture directly affect wood strength, stiffness, dimensional stability, durability, and long-term performance. Improper moisture control during drying, storage, transportation, or installation can lead to defects such as warping, checking, shrinkage, swelling, joint separation, and structural serviceability problems.
This course examines the movement of moisture through wood, the development of drying stresses, and the engineering principles governing air drying and kiln drying processes. It also discusses methods for measuring moisture content and explains the relationship between fiber saturation point, equilibrium moisture content, shrinkage, and dimensional stability.
Moreover, this course reviews design and construction considerations associated with framing lumber, heavy timber systems, flooring, trim, and wood installation practices. It explores moisture-related risks during design, construction, and field evaluation, and applying sound engineering practices to minimize long-term performance issues.
This 1 CPD online course is applicable to civil and structural engineers, as well as other technical professionals interested in learning more about wood moisture behavior, drying processes, and dimensional stability in wood construction.
This PE continuing education course is intended to provide you with the following specific knowledge and skills:
- Understanding the role of moisture content in wood performance
- Analyzing common methods used to measure moisture content in wood
- Identifying recommended moisture content levels for various wood products and uses
- Learning about air-drying and kiln-drying methods
- Understanding how moisture moves during the drying process
- Familiarizing yourself with common drying defects and internal stresses such as checking, collapse, honeycombing, and warping
- Knowing moisture control considerations during shipping, storage, and construction
- Estimating dimensional changes in wood due to moisture variation
- Applying moisture-related considerations to structural lumber, framing, flooring, and finish materials
In this professional engineering CEU course, you need to review the course document titled, “A Guide to Wood Drying, Moisture Content and Dimensional Changes”, which is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Publication No. FPL-GTR-282, Chapter 13 of the USDA Wood Handbook “A Guide to Wood Drying, Moisture Content and Dimensional Changes”.
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