Flexural performance of cfrp-bamboo scrimber composite beams

Abstract

This study presents a new structure made up of bamboo scrimber and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) to address the low stiffness and strength of bamboo scrimbers. Three-point bending test and finite element model were conducted to study the failure mode, strain-displacement relationship, load-displacement relationship and relationships between strain distribution, contact pressure and deflection, and adhesive debonding. The results indicated that the flexural modulus and static flexural strength of the composite beams were effectively increased thanks to the CFRP sheets. The flexural modulus of the composite specimens were 2.33-2.94 times that of bamboo scrimber beams, and the flexural strength were 1.49-1.58 times that of bamboo scrimber beams. Adhesive debonding had a great influence on the strain distribution and deflection of the composite specimens. It was an important factor for the failure of the CFRP-bamboo scrimber composite specimens. According to the finite element simulation, the strain distribution, contact pressure and deflection also greatly changed with the adhesive debonding. After complete peeling, the deflection of the specimen was 3.09 times that of the unpeeled because it was no longer an integral beam.