Moisture sorption models for wood

Abstract

While making calculations for non-steady heat-and-moisture exchange processes in building envelope constructions it is necessary to consider moisture sorption isotherms of the materials in use. Fifteen aqueous vapor sorption models have been analyzed in order to select the simplest one that represents conventional equilibrium wood moisture values in the most accurate way. Hailwood-Horrobin and Peleg modified equations with three and four empirical constants respectively are the most suitable ones for description. When selecting models for calculations in a climatically defined range of air temperature and relative humidity values, these equations might be in preference to others. The dependence of the constants in these equations on the ambient air temperature have been calculated.