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Effects of Grain Angle on Reproducibility and Accurate Measurement of Moisture Content of Wood Samples Using a Pin-Style Moisture Meter



Author(s)

Reynolds Okai

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DOI:10.17265/2162-5263/2016.03.006

Studies were conducted on the effects of grain angle on reproducibility and accurate measurement of moisture content of four wood samples using a pin-style moisture meter. The wood samples were partitioned into four quadrants and moisture contents were measured along the grain direction in the first and second quadrants from 0 degree to 150 degrees insteps of 30 degrees. Experimental results indicated that the average moisture content remained constant as the grain angle increased. Repeated measurements of moisture content at different grain angles or points on the wood surface showed similar patterns of variation. Within-point standard deviations of the moisture contents were greater than between-point standard deviations. A non-destructive method of measuring moisture content at the same location or point on the wood surfaces could not be proposed because of the high variation of moisture content when repeated measurements were taken at the same point. Instead, accurate measurements of moisture content could be obtained at random positions within a radius of 30 mm from the point of intersection of the moisture content axis and the grain angle.

Moisture content, moisture meter, reproducibility, within-point standard deviation, between-point standard deviation