Effects of the cross-sectional dimension and moisture profile of wood specimens on the ultrasonic sound velocities of radiata pine heartwood and sapwood. Each moisture profile model specimen was made by composing five wood pieces with various moisture contents. As the cross-sectional dimensions decreased the ultrasonic velocities of both heartwood and sapwood decreased by 4~8%. In the ultrasonic signals transmitted through the specimens low frequency components more dominated than high frequency components as the dimension of cross section increased. The specimens with the same average MCs and different moisture profiles showed different ultrasonic velocities. By plotting the ultrasonic velocities against the average moisture contents of the inner three pieces of the moisture profile model specimens it was revealed that three distinct plot patterns existed.