Comparison of Moisture Content Distribution, Stress Distribution, and Shrinkage of Red Oak Lumber Dried By a Radio-Frequency/Vacuum Drying Process and a Conventional Kiln

End-matched samples of 8/4 red oak, 8 feet long, were dried in a radio-frequency/vacuum (RFV) kiln and a conventional kiln to compare the moisture content distribution, stress distribution, and shrinkage of lumber dried by the two methods. The conventional kiln maintained the lowest moisture gradient across the board thickness and also maintained the lowest stress level. However, the pattern of moisture distribution and the stress patterns were similar throughout drying for both methods. Total shrinkage of lumber dried in the RFV kiln was approximately 30 percent less than the shrinkage of lumber dried in the conventional kiln. The lumber in the RFV kiln dried in approximately 1/17 the time required for the lumber in the conventional kiln.

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