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Effects of cross section design and testing conditions on the flexural properties of wood/PVC composite beams
Author(s) -
Sombatsompop N.,
Prapruit W.,
Chaochanchaikul K.,
Pulngern T.,
Rosarpitak V.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of vinyl and additive technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.295
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1548-0585
pISSN - 1083-5601
DOI - 10.1002/vnl.20202
Subject(s) - flexural strength , materials science , composite material , composite number , flexural modulus , three point flexural test , bending , beam (structure) , structural engineering , engineering
Highly filled wood/poly(vinyl chloride) (WPVC) composites were manufactured in five different cross sections by using an industrial‐scale twin‐screw extruder. The flexural properties of such composites were evaluated, with the effects of sample direction, span length, and rate of loading also being taken into account. The experimental results suggested that the cross section design of WPVC composite products had a significant effect on the flexural properties. Better flexural properties were obtained when testing the WPVC composites in an edgewise loading direction. The findings of this work suggested that a low number of hollow cores with thick flanges and webs should be used to obtain a composite with better flexural properties. The WPVC composite with low density was observed to exhibit lower flexural strength, and the rate of loading had a marginal effect on the flexural properties of the composites. The minimum L/d ratios of the WPVC beam to be used for steady flexural properties were 10 in the edgewise direction and 16 in the flatwise direction. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL, 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers