Two-dimensional wood drying stress simulation using control volume mixed finite element methods (CVFEM)

Abstract

The work was aimed at simulating two-dimensional wood drying stress using the control-volume finite element method (CVFEM). Stress/strain was modeled by moisture content gradients regarding shrinkage and mechanical sorption in a cross-section of wood. CVFEM was implemented with triangular finite elements and lineal interpolation of the independent variable which were programmed in Fortran 90 language. The model was validated by contrasting results with similar ones available in the specialised literature. The present model's results came from isothermal (20°C) drying of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides): two-dimensional distribution of stress/strain and water content, 40, 80, 130, 190 and 260 hour drying time and evolution of normal stress (-2.5 < σxx < 1.2, MPa), from the interior to the exterior of wood.