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The Effects of Relative Humidity on the Structural Response of Selected Wood Samples in the Cross-Grained Direction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Marion F. Mecklenburg
Affiliation:
Conservation Analytical Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560
Charles S. Tumosa
Affiliation:
Conservation Analytical Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560
Nicolas Wyplosz
Affiliation:
Conservation Analytical Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560
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Abstract

Wood is common as a structural material throughout Art and Archaeological collections. While there is a considerable amount of information on the behavior of wood in the longitudinal direction, failure is often perpendicular to the grain direction. This study concentrated on the cross-grained mechanical behavior of several woods and their response to changes in relative humidity. The mechanical behavior of these woods coupled with the dimensional response to relative humidity can be used to assess the potential for damage to restrained wood objects as well as determine allowable museum environmental fluctuations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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References

REFERENCES

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4. Mecklenburg, M.F., Tumosa, C.S., and McCormick-Goodhart, M.H., “A General Model Relating Externally Applied Forces to Environmentally Induced Stresses in Materials,” See this volume.Google Scholar