The Mechanical Properties of Modified Wood

Wood is a material that has evolved to fulfil a number of structural roles in supporting the tree canopy, such as resisting wind loads, and so on. These mechanical properties can be exploited and used in various structural roles by mankind. It is, however, important to note that wood, as it performs in the natural environment, is fully saturated with water. When used in man-made structures, wood is invariably dried to a relatively low moisture content (below the FSP) and as a consequence exhibits physical properties that are subject to change as the moisture content of the cell wall changes. 

In most cases, wood modification results in a change in the way in which the wood responds to moisture and, with a great many wood modifications, a reduction in EMC at a 

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