Predicting decay rates in structures: the effects of wood moisture content on decay rate
Morrell, J. J.
2000 Durability and Disaster Mitigation In Wood-Frame Housing, November 6-8, Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Morrell, J. J., (2000), "Predicting decay rates in structures: the effects of wood moisture content on decay rate", Durability and Disaster Mitigation In Wood-Frame Housing, November 6-8, Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Abstract:
Changes in building practices have dramatically altered the potential for moisture ingress into building cavities. Moisture in these cavities can create ideal conditions for the development of fungal decay that eventually leads to costly repairs and possible building failures. Predicting the rates of decay under varying construction and environmental regimes has been the focus of much research, but one critical knowledge gap in these models has been accurate estimates of the effects of various temperature and moisture conditions on the rates of fungal attack. The absence of definitive data forces engineers to make extremely conservative estimates of decay rates that may not accurately reflect the risk of damage. This presentation will describe preliminary trials to characterize the effects of temperature and wood moisture content on material properties of wood. The results, although limited, can be used to more accurately predict the risks of fungal attack under specific building cavity conditions.