Improving the accuracy of wood moisture content estimation in four European softwoods from Spain

Aim of study: To obtain improved models to predict, with an error less than ± 2.0%, the gravimetric moisture content in four different softwoods commonly present Spanish and European markets, based on electrical resistance measurements. This estimation is useful not only for assessing quality wood products, especially case laminated during transformation delivery process, but also accurately monitoring evolution bridges buildings, which great importance its maintenance service life improvement.Area The study was carried out samples Scots, laricio, radiata maritime pines provenances.Material methods: On 50x50x20 mm3 solid (36 per species, 9 condition), conditioned at 20ºC (±05ºC) 40±5%, 65±5%, 80±5% or 90±5% Relative Humidity (RH), oven-dry measured. Samuelsson's model fitted data explain relationship between two variables. accuracy evaluated by use external sample.Main results: With proposed mathematical functions can be estimated ±0.9% confirming effectiveness this nondestructive methodology accurate content.Research highlights: our results allow improvement technique resistance-type methodologies.Keywords: Resistance-type meter; species correction.Abbreviations used: MC: Moisture content; RH: relative Humidity; R: resistance; RP: measured parallel grain; RT: perpendicular (transversally) GM-MC: gravimetrically content.