Modeling Wood Moisture Sorption Hysteresis Based on Similarity Hypothesis. Part 1. Direct Approach

A similarity-hypothesis approach to modeling sorption hysteresis in porous media has been applied to wood. The method, which uses the adsorption and desorption relative humidities directly as similarity statement parameters, is simpler than previously reported techniques based on the independent-domains theory since only the boundary curves of the main hysteresis loop are required in order to generate the scanning curves at a given temperature. A comparison of the predicted scanning curves with actual experimental data for yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) indicates that the approach is highly reliable, with predicted values within 0.01 to 1.05 of the actual equilibrium moisture content of the samples at different relative humidity levels