Mechanical and fracture properties of particleboard

Abstract

Particleboard (PB) are wood-based composites with fine wood fibers bound together by a small amount of polymeric adhesive, widely used in furniture industry and civil engineering. PB plates can be painted, laminated or veneered, and have good dimensional stability and load bearing capacity when properly designed. However, the deformation and fracture of such elements create malfunctions of structures made of MDF. This paper presents experimental results obtained for three point bending (TPB) tests, mode I and mode II fracture toughness. The bending tests were carried on rectangular specimens, while the fracture toughness tests were performed on Single Edge Notched Bend (SENB) specimens for mode I, respectively on Compact Shear (CS) specimens for mode II loadings. Digital Image Correlation technique allows the determination of the Crack Relative Displacement Factor and estimation of the Energy Release Rate.