Acoustical investigations of the influence of moisture contents in oak wood on the damping of its free vibrations

This paper presents some results of acoustical
investigations of the influence of moisture contents in oak wood on the damping
coefficient of its free vibrations. It has been found out that a change of the
damping coefficient is observed only in the range of the inhibition water, but
not in that of the capillary one. The values of the damping coefficient versus
moisture content in oak wood were found out to be different during the
adsorption (chemical, physical) process of water and the desorption one. This
diversity is similar in shape to a hysteresis loop which upper curve corresponds
to the moistening process and the lower one to the drying process.