Image-based modelling of water transport in wood including material biodegradation
WaterInWood
The use of wood as a construction material is beneficial because of its low carbon footprint. However, the risks of mechanical and biological deterioration due to the moisture effects may discourage the use of wood. In this context, numerical models, able to simulate the water transport and initiation of (fungal) decay in wood, are important for a better understanding of the wood behavior under variable environments.
The main aim of the WaterInWood project is to improve understanding on water transport in wood in hygroscopic and over-hygroscopic conditions and in the initial phases of fungal decay. A multi-phase model will be developed for transient moisture transport in wood based on measurements carried out with advanced imaging methods. The model will be calibrated and validated for untreated and treated softwood materials.
Image analysis methods will be used to measure the concentration of bound and free water in wood at multiple length scales down to the individual cell wall level. We will apply both nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and imaging, and X-ray tomography (CT) to see the influence of wood infrastructure on the water transport in a) intact specimens and b) during different stages of decay process. This approach is hypothesized to predict all moisture states below and above the fibre saturation point (FSP) of wood. Mass loss and modulus of elasticity (MOE) will be measured from image analysed samples during different phases of fungal activity. The resulting data allows defining the relationship between wood moisture, stiffness change and mass loss, fundamental relations with high practical relevance.
The project will be an important science-based contribution to the development of wood construction, as well as performance evaluation of existing load-bearing or non-structural wooden members. This allows designing safer and more durable wood products, as well as extending the life cycle of existing structures. The developed methods are applicable to other structural biomaterials with similar problems of biodegradability in changing environments.
The project includes collaboration with high-level national and international research groups on topics such as multi-phase modelling, experimental research on moisture transport and decay in wood products, and advanced NMR and CT techniques for studying untreated and modified wood.
