Abstract
In this study, a wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure was fabricated by an insertion glue method using medium density fiberboard (MDF) and plywood as panels. Birch was used for the core. The mechanical properties and failure modes of the wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure were investigated by an out-of-plane compressive test, a short beam shear test, and their matching analytical models. The out-of-plane compressive test and the compression analytical model showed that the failure mode of the plywood and birch combination was mainly shear failure in the core. The cores were broken or had sliding surfaces, while the failure mode of the MDF and birch combination was mainly shear failure of the core at both ends. Although the compression properties of the MDF and birch combination were better, the specific strength and modulus of the plywood and birch combination was larger, which align with the characteristics of lightweight and strong strength. The failure mode of the plywood and birch combination was delamination at both ends of the panel or core breakage, which indicated that this combination had better short beam shear properties. The theoretical models of the compressive /short beam shear properties were in good agreement with experimental results obtained for the plywood and birch combination.
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Mechanical Properties of the Wood-Based X-Type Lattice Sandwich Structure
Tengteng Zheng, Yanpeng Cheng, Shuai Li, Yan Zhang, and Yingcheng Hu *
In this study, a wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure was fabricated by an insertion glue method using medium density fiberboard (MDF) and plywood as panels. Birch was used for the core. The mechanical properties and failure modes of the wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure were investigated by an out-of-plane compressive test, a short beam shear test, and their matching analytical models. The out-of-plane compressive test and the compression analytical model showed that the failure mode of the plywood and birch combination was mainly shear failure in the core. The cores were broken or had sliding surfaces, while the failure mode of the MDF and birch combination was mainly shear failure of the core at both ends. Although the compression properties of the MDF and birch combination were better, the specific strength and modulus of the plywood and birch combination was larger, which align with the characteristics of lightweight and strong strength. The failure mode of the plywood and birch combination was delamination at both ends of the panel or core breakage, which indicated that this combination had better short beam shear properties. The theoretical models of the compressive /short beam shear properties were in good agreement with experimental results obtained for the plywood and birch combination.
Keywords: Wood composite; X-type; Lattice sandwich structure; Mechanical properties; Failure modes
Contact information: Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology of Ministry of Education of China, College of Material Science and Engineering, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; * Corresponding author: yingchenghu@nefu.edu.cn
INTRODUCTION
Wood is one of the four major building materials in the world. The others are steel, cement, and plastic. Compared with other building materials, wood has outstanding thermal insulation, a high ratio of strength to weight, environmental protection properties, and others. It creates an elegant and natural living environment and improves mental health (Profft et al. 2009; Healy et al. 2018; Hu et al. 2018; Kržišnik et al. 2019; Munir et al. 2019). However, the wood itself is easily deformed, susceptible to shrinkage and humidity, decomposes easily, burns easily, and high-quality wood has been over-harvested. At present, natural forest resources have been excessively logged, and the remaining forest resources are mostly used to protect soil erosion and maintain ecological balance. Therefore, low quality wood such as artificial fast-growing plantation forest has become the main source of commercial wood. The emphasis of processing and utilization in the future is the deep development and high value-added utilization of the advanced technologies of artificial fast-growing forest and processing residues. As environmental issues become more prevalent, research on composite materials based on renewable resources have been gaining popularity. The preparation and application of wood-based composites, especially wood engineering materials, have great advantages for realizing the use of inferior wood and improving the utilization rate of wood resources (Ashby et al. 2001; Evans 2001; Irle et al. 2019; Jamalirad et al. 2019).
The lattice sandwich structure is a kind of truss structure that is composed of rigid thin panels and cores. The mechanical properties are easy to predict, and the mechanical properties in various aspects are much better than those of foam materials (Ashby et al. 2000; Bunyawanichakul et al. 2008; Pandit et al. 2018; Garg and Chalak 2019). Most lattice sandwich structures are made of metals, fiber reinforced materials, and composites (Giancaspro et al. 2006; Mahmut 2014; Mathieson and Fam 2015; Li et al. 2019), and the mechanical properties of different lattice sandwich structures are different (Deshpande et al. 2001). Yin et al. (2012, 2011, 2013) studied the properties of carbon fiber (CF) composite pyramidal lattice (CPL) structures filled with wood and silicone rubber. Their results showed that the energy absorption capability was enhanced for the rubber-core truss CPL, and the density-specific performance space of the CF composite lattice structures can be expanded by employing the hybrid truss construction. Wang et al. (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2014, 2018) studied the mechanical properties of the pyramidal and the X-type lattice sandwich structure. Their results showed that the mechanical properties of the X-type lattice sandwich structure were better than those of the other pyramidal sandwich structures.
Lattice sandwich structures prepared with metal materials as matrix composites have been gradually applied in large aerospace spacecraft and other fields (Li et al. 2003; Jiang et al. 2011; Liu et al. 2015). However, there have been few studies on lattice sandwich structures composed mainly of wood or wood composite materials, which are worth exploring as wood engineering materials in wood structure buildings (Karam et al. 1994; Way et al. 2016). Li et al. (2018, 2019) studied the effects of the optimized core on the compressive behavior of the bio-based two-dimensional (2-D) lattice structure. Their results showed that the optimized bio-based 2-D lattice structure had superior mechanical properties compared to other biomaterials. Jin et al. (2015) studied the mechanical properties of wood-based 2-D lattice truss core sandwich structures composed of different panel materials. Their results showed that the failure mode of the structure was shear failure, and the lattice core sandwich structures had good energy absorption capability.
Absorption capability is an important factor for the safety of wooden construction. Qin et al. (2019) examined the effects of the core configuration on the out-of-plane compressive behavior of a wood-based 2-D straight column lattice truss sandwich structure. Their results showed that the ultimate strength in the out-of-plane compression of the eight different configurations followed a linear relationship with the relative density of the core.
Using a wood composite material as a lattice structure not only improves the utilization of natural resources, but it also is environmentally friendly. Using filling functional materials in a wood-based lattice sandwich structure can realize the integration of the structure and function (Xu et al. 2017; Liu et al. 2019). The study of the mechanical properties of a wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure as a new configuration is particularly important for obtaining its light weight, high strength, and multi-function integration.
EXPERIMENTAL
Materials
Plywood (Lixiang Enterprise Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China) and MDF (Xiaomei Wood Industry Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China) were used as panel materials, and the birch (Tengzhan Wood Industry Co. Ltd., Harbin, China) was used as core materials. Epoxy resin (Type: WSR6101 E-44) was purchased from Star Synthetic Materials Co. LTD (Nantong, China). Polyamide resin (Type: Low molecular-650-) was purchased from Danbao Resin Co. LTD (Chuzhou, China). The mechanical properties of the core materials are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Mechanical Properties of the Core Materials
Fig. 1. The unit cell schematic of the X-type lattice sandwich structure (a) main view, (b) side view, (c) three-dimensional diagram
Methods
Cell size design
The unit cell schematic of the X-type lattice sandwich structure is shown in Fig. 1, and the relative density of the X-type lattice sandwich structure was calculated as follows,
(1)
a = 2(e + f) (2)
b = L0 cosω + 2t (3)
L0 = L – 2c (4)
where L and d are the length and diameter of the core, whereas b, a, and tf are the length, width, and thickness of the panel, respectively. The parameter c is the depth of the punching, t is the distance from the drilling position to the nearest edge of the panel, and ω is the angle of the core and panel. The parameter e is the distance from the drilling position to the nearest edge andf is the distance from the center line, and L0 is the length of the core in the core layer.
Manufacturing process of the X-type lattice sandwich structure
In the manufacturing process of the wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure (Fig. 2), the panels and cores of the required size were cut. The upper and lower panels were drilled with the required size bit at the required angle. The appropriate mixture of epoxy resin and polyamide resin was added into the holes of the panel. The cores were inserted into the holes of the panel. Lastly, the suitable pressure was applied on the lattice structure with a horizontal tong. The specimens were removed from the horizontal tong after 72 h, and the fabrication of the X-type lattice sandwich structure was completed.
Fig. 2. The manufacturing process of the X-type lattice sandwich structure
Out-of-plane compression test
According to the ASTM C365/C365M-16 (2016) standard test method for compression strength and modulus, the X-type lattice sandwich structure was tested at room temperature using a universal ability test machine (C61.104, Shenzhen, China), at a displacement rate of 1 mm/min, and the experimental apparatus is depicted in Fig. 4(a). The load-displacement curve of the structure was based on the measured load and displacement. The compression tests of one type of specimen (X-type) were separately conducted with two kinds of combinations. The parameters of the X-type lattice sandwich structure for out-of-plane compression are shown in Table 2.
Equation 5 was used to calculate the compressive strength,
σc = Pmax ÷ (b × l) (5)
where Pmax is the maximum compressive load, b is the width, and l is the length of the compression test specimen.
Equation 6 was used to calculate the compressive modulus,
Ec = (ΔP × h) ÷ (l × b × Δh) (6)
where ΔP is the load increment of the linear elastic part of the compressive curve, Δh is the compressive deformation increment corresponding with ΔP, and h is the thickness of the compression test specimen.
Table 2. Cell Size Design of the Compression Test
Short beam shear test
The short beam shear test of the X-type lattice sandwich structure was conducted according to the ASTM C393/C393M-16 (2016) standard, using a universal ability test machine at a loading rate of 0.5 mm/min. The device for the short beam shear test is shown in Fig. 4(b). Two types of specimens, namely X(V)-type and X(H)-type, were tested by the short beam shear test (Fig. 3). The parameters of the X-type lattice sandwich structure for the short beam shear test are shown in Table 3. The short beam shear test load-displacement curve can be obtained based on the measured load and displacement.
The shear stress of the core was calculated as follows,
τc = (P × K) ÷ (2b(h – tf)) (7)
where P is the midspan load, K is dimensionless (its value is 1), b and h are respectively the width and thickness of the specimen, and tf is the thickness of the panel. Equation 8 was used to calculate the shear stiffness of the structure,
(8)
where ΔP is the load increment of the load-deflection curve at the initial elastic stage, f is the deflection increment of the corresponding ΔP in the span of the structure, e represents the extended arm length, and f1 is the increment of deflection at the extension point of ΔP (taking the average of the left and right points).
The following equation was used to calculate the shear modulus of the core,
Gc = U ÷ (b(h – tf)) (9)
where Gc represents the shear modulus of the core, U represents the shear stiffness of the structure.
Fig. 3. Short beam shear specimens tested
Table 3. Size and Design of the Short Beam Shear Test
Fig. 4. The experimental apparatus: (a) compression test and (b) short beam shear test
Theoretical model of compressive property
To predict the mechanical properties of the wood-based X-type lattice sandwich structure, analytical models for the compressive and short beam shear properties of the X-type lattice sandwich structure were derived according to the methods proposed by Wang and others (Manalo 2013; Li et al. 2018; Wang et al. 2018).
The hypothetical premise is that the two ends of the core are fixed on the panel. It was assumed that there was no relative slip or slip surface between the core and the upper and lower panels under the compressive load. The deformation of the X-type lattice sandwich structure is shown in Fig. 5(a). The force formula of the upper panel was in the horizontal state, assuming that the longitudinal displacement of the upper part of the core is δ and the transverse displacement and rotation angle of the core is zero (Fig. 5(b) and Fig. 5(c)). The upper end of the core could only move downward under the compressive load, where the theoretical load capacity was decomposed into the axial force and the transverse shear force.
The axial force and transverse shear force of the core can be expressed by Eq. 10 and Eq. 11,
FN = (πd2 × Ec × δsinω) ÷ 4L0 (10)
Fs = (12 × Ec ×lδcosω) ÷ L30 (11)
where FN and Fs are, respectively, the axial force and transverse shear force of the core, Ec is the compression modulus of the core, ω is the angle of the core and panel, is the vertical compressive displacement of the lattice structure, L0 is the length of the core in the core layer.
The load capacity is given by Eq. 12,
(12)
where I is the moment of inertia of the core.
The strain of the X-type lattice sandwich structure can be expressed by Eq. 13,
ε = δ ÷ (L0sinω) (13)
where ε is the strain of the sandwich structure. The equivalent compressive strength and modulus were calculated according to Eqs. 14 and Eq. 15,
(14)
(15)
where and E are respectively the equivalent compressive strength and modulus, and A is the cross sectional area of the core.
Fig. 5. (a) Lattice structure deformation, (b) displacement decomposition, and (c) core load situation
Theoretical model of short beam shear property
Under a three-point bending load, the upper and lower panels of the X-type lattice sandwich structure mainly bear bending loads, while the middle core mainly bears a shear load. As the core is a typical tensile dominant material, the rods in the core resist the external load mainly by compression deformation. Equation 16 was used to calculated the transverse shear modulus of the sandwich structure,
Gc = τc ÷ γc (16)
where τc is the transverse shear load of the core, and γc is the transverse shear strain of the core.
The transverse shear load and the transverse shear strain of the core were calculated according to Eqs. 17 and 18, and the axial force on the core was calculated according to Eq. 19.
τc = FAsinω ÷ bh (17)
γc = Δ ÷ L0cosω (18)
FA = (Ecπr2) × (Δsinω ÷ L0) (19)
where Δ is the midspan displacement of the force, and FA is axial force on the core.
The transverse shear modulus of core was calculated according to Eq. 20,
Gc = (Ec × πr2 × sinωcosω) ÷ (bL0) (20)
where Gc is the transverse shear modulus of core.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Compression Failure Modes
The load-displacement curves of the two types of the X-type lattice sandwich structures under compressive loading are shown in Fig. 6. These load-displacement curves are roughly divided into three stages, namely the elastic stage, the yield stage, and the descending stage after the peak load. In the elastic stage, the curve rises the most rapidly, and the structure has no obvious change. In the yield stage, the structure begins to deform and the adhesive layer cracks obviously. As the load increases, the rise rate of the curve will slow down until it reaches the peak and starts to decline. In this process, the deformation of the structure becomes larger and is gradually crushed.
Fig. 6. Compression load-displacement curves of the two types of X-type lattice sandwich structures (a) Plywood and birch, (b) MDF and birch
The load-displacement curves of the plywood and birch combination are shown in Fig. 6(a). The main failure mode was shown to be core shear failure and the cores were broken or had sliding surfaces (Fig. 7(a)). The load-displacement curves of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 8 mm was above that of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 6 mm. This is because the cores provide the main load capacity. With the increase of the compression load, the core will be completely broken. A thinner core results in a faster and more severe break.
The load-displacement curves of the combination of MDF and birch are shown in Fig. 6(b). The main failure mode was shear failure of the cores at the two ends, as shown in Fig. 7(b). The load capacity of the structure provided by the thick core is larger than that provided by the thin core.
Fig. 7. Compression failure modes of the two types of X-type lattice sandwich structures (a) plywood and birch and (b) MDF and birch
Compression Property
High quality structural materials should have high specific strength to meet the strength requirements with the smallest cross-section possible, and at the same time they can greatly reduce the weight of the structure itself. Specific strength is the strength of a material (force per unit area at break) divided by its apparent density.
For the combination of plywood and birch, the load capacity (Fig. 8(a)), compressive strength (Fig. 8(b)), and compression modulus (Fig. 9(c)) of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 8 mm were 85.38, 81.82, and 313.06% larger, respectively, than those of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 6 mm. The core provides load capacity for the structure and core with diameter of 6mm is easy to break. The compressive strength and compressive modulus of the X-type lattice sandwich structure are positively correlated with the core diameter.
For the combination of MDF and birch, the load capacity (Fig. 8(a)), compressive strength (Fig. 8(b)), and compression modulus (Fig. 9(c)) of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 8 mm were 10.67, 15.79, and 79.26% larger than those of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 6 mm, respectively. The compression property of the structure with the size of the two cores has little difference, which indicates that the diameter of the cores has little influence on the compression performance of the structure, and the panel plays an important role in the structure.
With the same core diameter, the combination of MDF and birch has better compression performance than the structure of the plywood and birch combination, which load capacity, compressive strength, and the compression modulus are generally high.
For the combination of plywood and birch, the specific strength (Fig. 8(d)) of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 8 mm was 79.26% larger than those of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 6 mm. This is because the weight of the panel is lighter. The diameter of the core determines the quality of the structure. The compression strength of the two core diameters varied greatly, so the specific strength of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 8 mm was higher.
Fig. 8. (a) Load capacity, (b) compressive strength, (c) compression modulus, (d) specific strength of the two types of X-type lattice sandwich structures
For the combination of MDF and birch, the specific strength (Fig. 8(d)) of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 8 mm was 41.13% less than those of the X-type lattice sandwich structure with a core diameter of 6 mm. This was due to the large mass of the panel and the relatively small mass of the structure with a core diameter of 6 mm. Comparing the specific strength of the two combinations showed that the specific strength of the combination of plywood and birch was larger overall, which is in line with the characteristics of light weight and high strength.
Short Beam Shear Failure Modes
In order to explore the influence of the core and panel on the mechanical properties of the X-type lattice sandwich structure, the short beam shear tests of the combination of plywood and birch and MDF and birch were conducted.
The load-displacement curves of the combination of plywood and birch are shown in Figs. 9(a) and 9(b). Under the effect of loads, the sandwich structure enters the linear elastic stage, and the midspan displacement increases rapidly and evenly with the increase of the loads during this stage. The curve is serrated near the maximum value, which is the phenomenon of cracking in the adhesive layer. The main failure mode of the X(V)-type lattice sandwich structure is that the middle of the lower panel breaks off and the upper panel is layered at both ends (Fig. 10). The main failure mode of the X(H)-type lattice sandwich structure is in the lamination of the panel and the core breaks off (structure with a core diameter of 6 mm).