MOISTURE GRADIENT STUDIES IN TIMBER BY THE MEASUREMENT OF DIELECTRIC PARAMETERS USING A MULTIPLE ELECTRODE ARRANGEMENT

摘要

This paper describes the second part of a study into the detection of transverse moisture gradients in timber using a method of precision capacitance measurement. Measurements were carried out using a multiple electrode arrangement on stacked veneer samples where systematic moisture gradients were introduced. Results from utilising various configurations of live electrodes show that although the scanning depth is affected by the moisture profile, a consistent increase is observed in the effective penetration depth of the electromagnetic waves as electrode separation is increased, yielding accurate moisture profiles to moderate depths.