The Effect of Wood Specific Gravity on the Flexural Behavior of CFRP-Reinforced Wood Beams

Abstract

The strengthening of wooden beams using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) is an effective method for enhancing beam capacity. Numerous studies have confirmed the increased capacity of CFRP-reinforced wood beams, though the degree of improvement varies. This variation suggests that the impact of CFRP reinforcement may be influenced by the timber’s specific gravity (SG). This study investigates the structural performance of wood beams reinforced with CFRP on the tension side. Experimental bending tests were conducted on three timber species—Albizia Falcata (Albasia), Acacia Mangium (Akasia), and Java Shorenensis (Meranti)—in accordance with ASTM D143-2009 standards. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using ANSYS Workbench 2020 R1 was employed to complement the experimental results and address inconsistencies caused by natural timber defects and mechanical property variations. The results show a significant increase in beam capacity due to CFRP reinforcement, particularly in timbers with lower SG. The study confirms that CFRP reinforcement effectively enhances the structural capacity of timber beams, especially in species with lower SG, and demonstrates the advantages of using FEA for designing CFRP-reinforced wood beams.