This paper deals with the numerical solution of a three-dimensional problem of non-isothermal moisture transfer in the anisotropic structure of wood and corresponding wood deformations in convective drying. The simulation is based on the unsteady-state nonlinear diffusion of moisture and heat with respect to the orthotropic nature of wood. The moisture gradient and the temperature gradient are set as driving forces for mass and heat transfer. The model respects the dependence of material coefficients on temperature and moisture, the Soret effect, the Duffour effect and the anisotropic nature of wood. A matrix form of the multiphysics model for FEM solver was derived and numerical simulations were performed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.