Statistics for Drying induced shrinkage stresses of a two-dimensional rectangular brick of aspect ratio 2 is studied numerically. The drying of brick is analysed as a conjugate problem. The conservation equations for the solid are obtained using continuum approach and the Navier-Stokes equations have been solved for the flow field. An elastic model has been used to calculate the shrinkage stresses. The present unified model predicts the stress concentration at the leading edge where it is expected to be maximum due to large shrinkage. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.