Shrinkage stresses in wood logs considered as layered, cylindrically orthotropic materials

The deformation and stresses in a circular wood log resulting from an arbitrary radial moisture distribution are examined. In this paper the log is modeled as a layered cylinder, with each layer assumed to be linearly elastic, cylindrically orthotropic, and homogeneous. The general solution to the equations of elasticity for a representative layer is given; constants of integration in the solution are determined through application of appropriate continuity conditions at the layer interfaces. Numerical examples are presented for logs of Scots pine which illustrate the effect of nonuniform moisture content upon the displacement and stress distributions.