The gripped-box model: A simple and robust formulation of sorption hysteresis for lignocellulosic materials

A new formulation is proposed for describing the moisture sorption hysteresis in lignocellulosic products. This model introduces the concept of gripped-box. This concept allows complex experimental pathways to be fitted with only two adjustable parameters, including the closure of scanning loops without any pumping effect. The product history is embedded in a unique internal variable, which defined the actual window of interest. The formulation proposed in the present work can be easily implemented in existing computational softwares. Based on comprehensive experiments, the model parameters were defined for five lignocellulosic materials largely used in the building construction. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd.