EQUILIBRIUM MOISTURE CONTENT AND MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF WOOD AFTER HEATING AND COOLING ASSUMING CONTINUED USE AFTER A FIRE

In order to continue using the load-bearing parts of wooden structural members after a fire, it is necessary to understand their mechanical performance after exposure to fire. Equilibrium moisture content, Young’s modulus, and bending strength were measured on sugi specimens that were once exposed to elevated temperatures of 60-210°C. Results revealed that Young’s modulus and bending strength increased with temperature history of up to 150°C, presumably due to a decrease in equilibrium moisture content. The heating times were 30 minutes and 8 hours, and above 180°C, the longer the heating time, the greater the decline in mechanical performance.