Theoretical and experimental Study of water transfer in cylindrical wood samples

Abstract

The diffusion phenomenon is one of the properties bound to the transfers of material within the wood. This phenomenon describes the capacity of this material to let migrate the water or water vapor. This paper aims to study kinetics absorption of water by wooden cylinders. This process is studied by immersing the sample in water. In this regard, a mathematical model based on numerical method with finite differences was elaborated. This method has been successfully used to describe the absorption step for a period of time after which, absorption equilibrium is achieved. The mathematical model takes into account the transport of water by transient diffusion with constant diffusivity; not only this model gave us the kinetics of absorption of water in good agreement with experiments carried out with wood sample immersed in water, but it is also able of calculating the profiles of concentration of water developed within the sample, and so affording a further insight on the process of water absorption.