The dielectric constant and loss tangent of white oak, Douglas-fir, and four commercial hardboards were measured at frequencies from 20 Hertz(Hz) to 50 Megahertz(MHz), moisture conditions from ovendry to complete saturation, temperatures from -20 to +90C., and, for the natural wood, with the electric field alined with three principal structural orientations. The hardboard was measured with the electric field perpendicular to the faces of the board. The behavior of all materials studied was qualitatively similar. The dielectric constant increased with increasing moisture content or temperature, and decreased with increasing frequency.

Provided here is a comprehensive treatise on all aspects of dielectric properties of wood and wood products. The topics covered include: Interaction between electromagnetic field and wood. - Wood composition and dielectric properties of its components. - Measurement of dielectric parameters of wood.- Dielectric properties of oven-dry wood. - Dielectric properties of moist wood. - Effect of different kinds of treatment on dielectric properties of wood. - Dielectric properties of bark. - Dielectric properties of wood-based materials. - Recommendations for determination of dielectric parameters of wood based materials and for their use in calculations. Several appendices comprise reference data onthe dielectric characteristics of wood and wood-based materials in the wide range of frequencies, temperatures, and moisture content.

Humanity's ability to produce enough food is mostly due to adoption of new methods and technologies by the agricultural industries as they became available. New information, communication and high speed processing and precision agriculture technologies have the potential to transform the agricultural industry. These technologies incorporate radio-frequency and microwave radiation into their systems. This book presents an overview of how these technologies are being used in agricultural systems. The main purpose of the book is to provide a glimpse of what is possible and encourage practitioners in the engineering and agricultural industries to explore how radio-frequency and microwave systems might further enhance the agricultural industry. The authors have extensive experience in agricultural and microwave engineering, instrumentation and communication systems.

The book highlights the recent research developments in biocomposite design, mechanical performance and utility. It discusses innovative experimental approaches along with mechanical designs and manufacturing aspects of various fibrous polymer matrix composites and presents examples of the synthesis and development of biocomposites and their applications. It is useful for researchers developing biocomposite materials for biomedical and environmental applications.

This book provides a thorough guide to the use of numerical methods in energy systems and applications. It presents methods for analysing engineering applications for energy systems, discussing finite difference, finite element, and other advanced numerical methods. Solutions to technical problems relating the application of these methods to energy systems are also thoroughly explored. Readers will discover diverse perspectives of the contributing authors and extensive discussions of issues including: • a wide variety of numerical methods concepts and related energy systems applications;• systems equations and optimization, partial differential equations, and finite difference method;• methods for solving nonlinear equations, special methods, and their mathematical implementation in multi-energy sources;• numerical investigations of electrochemical fields and devices; and• issues related to numerical approaches and optimal integration of energy consumption. This is a highly informative and carefully presented book, providing scientific and academic insight for readers with an interest in numerical methods and energy systems.

This book highlights the recent research works on computer science, electrical and electronic engineering which was presented virtually during the 2nd International Conference on Computer Science, Electrical & Electronic Engineering (ICCEE 2020) on 17th and 18th August 2020. Written by leading researchers and industry professionals, the papers highlight recent advances and address current issues in the respective fields.

Wood is formed in an essentially water-saturated environment in the living tree, and the cell wall remains in this state until the water flow from the roots is interrupted, such as by felling the tree. The wood then begins to lose most of its moisture by drying, resulting in changes in most of its physical properties. These changes, and their relationship to the environment to which the wood is subsequently ex posed, are the subject of this book. The text consists of six chapters. The first chapter discusses cer tain empirical relationships between wood and water, methods of measuring wood moisture content, factors which affect its equilib rium moisture content, and the effect of moisture content on wood strength. The second chapter treats the thermodynamics of moisture sorption by wood, inc1uding enthalpy, entropy, and free energy changes. The third chapter discusses some of the theories which have been proposed to explain the sorption isotherms for hygroscopic ma terials such as wood. Chapter 4 considers hygroexpansion or the shrinking and swelling of wood associated with moisture change. Chapter 5 is concerned with how moisture moves through the cell wall of wood in response to both moisture and temperature gradients. The sixth and final chapter discusses the theoretical and practical aspects of the electrical resistance and dielectric properties of wood, in c1uding the principles involved in their application in electrical moisture meters.