Thermal performance of wooden elements exposed to microwave radiation during treatment of building defects

Abstract

The paper describes application and theory of microwave radiation and experimental optimization of microwave radiation in relation to its growth of temperature inside and outside of wooden elements. The effect of microwave radiation on building structures is first manifested by vibration of water molecules contained in the material, which leads to a change of the state of matter from liquid to steam, which then evaporates from the wet material. During the transformation of energy from liquid state of matter to steam, heat is generated, therefore, wooden elements heat up. Therefore, the irradiated element, a wooden one in this case, gets dried up. More precisely, the paper assesses the effect of the heating times and distance of heated material from the microwave generator (antenna) and reached temperatures on the surface and inside of the irradiated spruce elements. Individual experiments were performed and results were evaluated for all wooden elements. Wooden samples were divided into two groups. Individual groups were exposed to microwave radiation for different times. In total there were two groups of spruce samples, where individual elements were exposed to identical ambient (outdoor) conditions for a long time.The paper describes application and theory of microwave radiation and experimental optimization of microwave radiation in relation to its growth of temperature inside and outside of wooden elements. The effect of microwave radiation on building structures is first manifested by vibration of water molecules contained in the material, which leads to a change of the state of matter from liquid to steam, which then evaporates from the wet material. During the transformation of energy from liquid state of matter to steam, heat is generated, therefore, wooden elements heat up. Therefore, the irradiated element, a wooden one in this case, gets dried up. More precisely, the paper assesses the effect of the heating times and distance of heated material from the microwave generator (antenna) and reached temperatures on the surface and inside of the irradiated spruce elements. Individual experiments were performed and results were evaluated for all wooden elements. Wooden samples were divided into two groups. Individual groups were exposed to microwave radiation for different times. In total there were two groups of spruce samples, where individual elements were exposed to identical ambient (outdoor) conditions for a long time.