Mass Loss of and Temperature Distribution in Southern Pine and Douglas Fir in the Range 100 To 800°C

Southern pine and Douglas fir test specimens were placed in an over kept at either 100, 160, 245, 400, 600, or 800 °C, and the center point temperatures and the mass losses of the specimens were measured as functions of exposure time. A model is described for calculating the temperature distribution in and the mass loss of wooden beams having rectangular cross sections. Comparisons were made between the data and the results of the model, and reasonable agreements were found between the measured and calculated temperatures and mass losses. Some tests were also performed to assess the effect of ambient oxygen concentration on the mass loss.