A numerical study of transient deformation and stress behavior of a clay slab during drying

ABSTRACT A transient three-dimensional analysis was carried out on internal strain-stress as well as heat and the moisture transfer in a ceramic slab during drying. A model was developed to analyze viscoelastic behavior, heat conduction and moisture diffusion. The basic equations were solved by the finite element method. The effects of several dimensionless parameters are discussed to find an optimum drying process and a precise design of molds in ceramic production. The stress and the gradient of moisture content were influenced significantly by the Biot or Lewis number. When the moisture diffusion is enhanced or the drying is controlled well so as to form only gentle gradients of moisture content in the slab, the maximum tensile stress can be reduced. Nonuniform drying results in the develoment of warp and increase in the maximum tensile stress. The drying characteristics were not appreciably influenced by shrinkage.