Tensile properties and mechanism of laser-cut bamboo slivers

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the tensile properties and the failure mechanisms of bamboo slivers that were subjected to different methods of laser-cutting with changing parameters. The failure of the sample was observed through in situ tensile testing combined with scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that laser-cutting could achieve high efficiency and minimal size variation in machining; however, the calculated sample size needed modification. When the laser power, cutting rate, and sample size were equal to 40 W, 5 mm × s-1, and 2 mm, respectively, the achieved tensile strength was 328.8 MPa, and the tensile modulus was 25.2 GPa. During testing, the surface of the laser-cut sample exhibited brittle fractures (with its interior typically damaged between the basic tissue and the fiber interface), fiber breakage, and fiber extraction.