Interlaminar fracture energy and its dependence on microstructure in three bamboo species of commercial importance

• Main Authors: Kelkar, B. U., Shukla, S. R., Yadav, S. M.
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier B.V. 2023
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General); HD Industries. Land use. Labor; S Agriculture (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/38581/

Bamboo, one of the versatile and natural bio-composite, is being extensively used in structural and non-structural application. Studying the interlaminar fracture behaviour of bamboos is very important for its usage in load bearing situation as well as processing to fabricate the composite products. The studies reported here presents the experimental work on Mode I fracture of three structural grade sympodial bamboo species, viz., Dendrocalamus brandisii, Bambusa bambos and Guadua angustifolia. The interlaminar fracture energy was evaluated in the inner, middle and outer layers of each bamboo by the double cantilever beam (DCB) test method using compliance calibration-based beam theory (CCBT). The volume fraction of the fibres in each layer of three bamboos was computed by observing the microstructure in the cross-section and measuring the fibre bearing area after maceration. Dependence of the fracture energy on volume fraction of fibre in each layer of three bamboo species was discussed. The fractured bamboo surfaces were observed under high resolution scanning electron micro-scope and possible fracture mechanisms were investigated. The layer-wise crystallinity parameters were computed using X-ray diffraction spectra. The middle layer of bamboo exhibited higher fracture energy followed by outer and inner layers. However, the volume fraction of fibres was found to reduce from outer to inner layers. It was found that higher crystallinity leads to lower fracture energy in these bamboos. The data on interlaminar fracture energy of three bamboos is found to be important for utilizing in various load bearing applications.