Seawater exposure effect on the fracture toughness of low-density woods/GRP sandwich systems

Neser G.

JOURNAL OF WOOD SCIENCE, cilt.56, sa.2, ss.154-159, 2010 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 56 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2010
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s10086-009-1084-7
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF WOOD SCIENCE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.154-159
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Environmental degradation, Wood/GRP sandwich systems, Fracture toughness, Mode I cracked sandwich beam test, Low-density woods
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

The effect of seawater exposure on the fracture toughness of balsa (Ochroma pyramidale L.) and end-grain balsa cores that are widely used in small-craft constructive members has been investigated experimentally in this study. The interfacial fracture toughness was determined using mode I cracked sandwich beam (CSB) tests. Additionally, the same tests were performed for poplar (Populus tremula L.), easily available because of its natural distribution along the coast of Turkey and more cost-effective than balsa and its derivatives, to see if it is a proper alternative. It was found that balsa and poplar cores that can be classified as low-density cores have much lower fracture toughness values than end-grain balsa cores. Additionally, there was a positive effect of seawater exposure on their fracture toughness as opposed to that of the end-grain core. From the aspect of fracture toughness, the poplar core can be considered much more reliable than the balsa core where delamination loads occur.