Crack Bridging Flax in Reinforced Woodflour /Unsaturated Polyester Composites

NUÑEZ, ADRIÁN; ARANGUREN, MIRTA I.; BERGLUND, LARS

San Pedro, Brasil

Simposio; Fifth International Symposium on Natural Polymers and Composites, Isnapol 2004; 2004

12-15 September, San Pedro, Brazil. , pp 155-157 Abstract: The bridging law concept and the fracture properties of flax reinforced wood- flour/unsaturated polyester composites were investigated. The addition of long fibres enhances toughness and crack growth propagation resistance. Experimental data were obtained by using the double cantilever beam method in which the specimen is loaded under pure bending moments. The simultaneous recording of applied force and crack opening displacement at the crack tip allow the construction of the energy release rate, G, versus the crack opening displacement ä from which the critical energy release rate and the bridging law can be determined. Keywords: crack bridging, bridging law concept, fracture properties, thermoset resin.