Mass attenuation coefficient and water content determination of Jamun (syzygium cumini) and Sal (shorea robusta) wood using gamma radiation
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Date
2021
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
Water content in wood is the major parameter for deciding the strength, quality and
durability of wood. The water content of wood was determined by calculating its mass
attenuation coefficient at various moisture intervals. The mass attenuation coefficient of
Jamun and Sal wood samples have been measured using gamma ray spectrometry based on
NaI(Tl) scintillation detector at gamma ray energy of 662 keV from radioactive source 137Cs.
The semi-logarithmic plots of relative transmission intensity versus thickness were plotted for
completely wet and oven-dried wood samples. The mass attenuation coefficient is obtained
from the slope of these curves which is further employed to estimate the water content in
wood. The mass attenuation coefficient of Jamun wood at fully wet and oven-dried state was
found to be 61.9±21.7 cm2/kg and 93.7±18.9 cm2/kg respectively. Also, mass attenuation
coefficient of Sal wood at fully wet and oven-dried state was found to be 52.5±16.8 cm2/kg
and 86.1±24.5 cm2/kg respectively. The plot of mass attenuation coefficient against the
relative water content shows that mass attenuation coefficient increases linearly with
decreasing water content. The variation of water in wood have been studied by placing wood
sample in water up to half of its thickness for different time intervals. The calculated moisture
gradient curves follow the exponential decay law. These studies may also help to better
understand the internal stress and dimensionality or dimensional stability of wood at different
water levels. The determination of water content of Jamun and Sal wood using gamma
radiations is rapid, more accurate and can be made non-destructive by properly simulating the
prototype of this experiment with suitable Monte Carlo simulation in field practices.
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Citation
Charanjeet Kaur (2021). Mass attenuation coefficient and water content determination of Jamun (syzygium cumini) and Sal (shorea robusta) wood using gamma radiation. (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.