The strength and stiffness of wood are related to moisture content between
the ovendry condition and the fiber saturation point.17 When clear wood is
dried below the fiber saturation point, strength and stiffness increase.
When clear wood absorbs moisture below the fiber saturation point,
strength and stiffness decrease. Wood properties in both directions are
recoverable to their original values when the moisture content is restored.
The approximate middle-trend effects of moisture content on the mechanical
properties of clear wood are shown in Table 3-6.