Which structural weakness increased in 18th-century warships when builders rapidly cured timbers using kiln drying?

💡 Explanation

When timbers were rapidly kiln-dried, case hardening occurred because the exterior dried faster than the interior causing tension that increased splitting along the wood grain. Therefore increased splitting results, rather than borer vulnerability, fastener corrosion, or delamination that arise from other mechanisms like saltwater exposure or material defects.

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