Detection of Wood Moisture Content Using Microwave Nondestructive Testing Method

Real-Time and nondestructive testing (NDT) of moisture content is crucial for preserving the structural integrity and prolonging the lifespan of wooden relics. This study proposes a microwave reflection-based non-contact method for detecting wood moisture, which offers superior real-time performance, adaptability, and accuracy compared with existing techniques. The finite element simulation is performed to analyze the relationship between the reflection coefficient and the wood's dielectric properties at different moisture content levels. The simulation results indicate that a polynomial regression model can accurately capture the relationship between the moisture content and the reflection coefficient. The microwave reflection-based detection system for wood moisture content is further developed and demonstrated to achieve high prediction accuracy, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.992 and a residual standard error (RSE) of 0.36. These findings validate the effectiveness of the proposed microwave method in accurately predicting moisture content, demonstrating a promising approach for structural health monitoring (SHM) and NDT of wooden cultural relics.