Wood moisture of rural timber constructions

J. Papez and P. Kic*

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Engineering,Kamycka 129, 16521, Prague 6, Czech Republic;
*Correspondence: kic@tf.czu.cz

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to present the methodology of measurement of moisturecontent of wood and show some results of this measurement in application on constructions ofagricultural buildings. Wood moisture can affect the durability of buildings. Measurements arein two different animal houses, which varied in design and implementation of the constructionmaterial (steel-wood and steel with wooden rafters). Both these buildings are relatively new(built in 2001 and 2009). There was measured also an older shed attached to the barn, which hasa storage and protective function. All these buildings are from spruce wood. The measurementwas based on the use of resistive sensor and capacitive sensor. Also determined was thetemperature and humidity of the air.From the results of measurements of tested buildings it is obvious that the moisture of the woodis in direct proportion with the relative humidity of the air. There are different results measuredby capacitive and resistive sensors. The suitability of the sensors for determination of woodmoisture was verified by gravimetric method, that is direct method and the results are veryaccurate. In the case of coniferous wood (especially spruce wood), there can be used withsufficient accuracy a capacitive sensor, which was used in all examined buildings. Key word: animal houses, wood, measurement, moisture content.

Key words:

animal houses, measurement, moisture content., wood

Measurement and Modelling of Circumstances in Animal Houses: What, Why and How

M. Hautala

Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
e-mail: mikko.hautala@helsinki.fi

Abstract:

The indoor air of the animal house has to be of such quality that the animal, the human being and the building should feel well. It means suitable temperature without moisture and gas, microbe and dust contents which should be low enough. The objective of our studies is to create general physical-chemical models for the ventilation and temperature of animal houses as the function of factors which affect micro climate (temperature, moisture, gases, dust, microbes, mould) and the heat balance of the animals. The optimal climate given by the models is achieved by the right ventilation. A system which is automatic or gives alarms and can be used to carry out the optimum conditions of the animal buildings in as stable a way as possible is needed. For this purpose reasonable and reliable sensors which measure the right factors are needed. So the results of sensors can be used for model based control of the ventilation in which case one can switch to the modelling adjustment in which more quantities can be simultaneously used and in such a way the quality of the indoor air of animal houses can be improved by the adjustment of only one quantity (temperature or moisture or carbon dioxide or other gas).

Key words: