This paper describes the evaluation of effective elastic properties of both softwood, represented by pine, and hardwood, represented by beech. In achieving this the X-ray microtomography is adopted first to yield a suitable computational model, a unit cell (UC), capturing the essential details of specific microstructures of both types of wood. Prediction of the effective homogenized properties then follows from the application of a first order homogenization technique to the UC model. Both standard finite element as well as extended finite element based approaches to discretize the UC are examined. Due to the lack of periodicity we accept the properties extracted from UC simulations subject to the assumption of zero fluctuations of the local displacement field enforced on the external surfaces of the UC model. These predictions are finally compared with those provided solely by classical micromechanical models such as the self-consistent and the Mori-Tanaka methods. Suitability of both approaches is also discussed.

purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20)

go to the previous paper
go to the next paper
return to the table of contents
return to the book description
purchase this book (price £75 +P&P)