Wood transverse fracture analysis at the mesoscopic scale

Abstract

The present study is an analysis of wood fracture behavior at the mesoscopic scale (i.e. the scale of growth ring). Radial TR crack growth mechanisms are complex and involve several events such as secondary cracks creation while cracks extend from one growth ring to another. Crack tip strain field of radial TR crack is measured by digital image correlation in order to better understand these phenomena. A numerical model for wood fracture has been conducted and a transverse model of spruce wood has been implemented. The simulation is realized by Material Point Method, a meshless method that discretizes material bodies into a collection of material points or particles. This promising tool improves the understanding of transverse fracture in spruce wood and can easily be used in further studies.