Coefficient of Moisture Expansion Calculator

Formula

The formula to calculate Coefficient of Moisture Expansion (CME) is:

\[ \text{CME} = \frac{\Delta L}{L_0 \times \Delta M} \]

Where:

\( \text{CME} \) is the coefficient of moisture expansion
\( \Delta L \) is the change in length
\( L_0 \) is the original length
\( \Delta M \) is the change in moisture content

What is the Coefficient of Moisture Expansion?

The coefficient of moisture expansion (CME) is a measure of how much a material expands or contracts when its moisture content changes. This property is particularly important in materials like wood, polymers, and composites, where changes in moisture can significantly affect dimensions and structural integrity. The CME is typically expressed as a ratio of the change in length per unit length per unit change in moisture content.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Change in Length (ΔL) = 0.5 mm
Original Length (L₀) = 100 mm
Change in Moisture Content (ΔM) = 0.02

Using the formula to calculate Coefficient of Moisture Expansion:

\[ \text{CME} = \frac{0.5}{100 \times 0.02} = \frac{0.5}{2} = 0.25 \]

The Coefficient of Moisture Expansion (CME) is 0.25.