**Moisture Mapping - Understanding the Significance of Wood Moisture Content** Moisture content plays a crucial role in the performance and longevity of wood. Moisture Mapping is a technique employed to assess and monitor the moisture distribution within a wood structure, providing valuable insights into its condition and susceptibility to moisture-related issues. ## Wood Moisture Content: A Critical Factor Wood moisture content (MC) refers to the amount of water present within the wood, expressed as a percentage of its dry weight. MC significantly impacts the physical and mechanical properties of wood. - **Shrinkage and Swelling:** As wood absorbs or releases moisture, it undergoes dimensional changes, causing shrinkage or swelling. - **Strength and Stiffness:** Higher MC generally reduces wood's strength and stiffness, making it more susceptible to deformation and damage. - **Decay Resistance:** High MC creates favorable conditions for fungal decay, weakening the wood and compromising its structural integrity. ## Can Wood Contain Over 100% Moisture Content? Typically, no. Wood's MC rarely exceeds 100%, as it represents the point at which all the wood's voids are saturated with water. However, under exceptional circumstances, such as prolonged submersion in water, wood can absorb additional moisture beyond its saturation point, resulting in a MC greater than 100%. This condition is known as "waterlogging" and can severely compromise wood's structural stability.