An overview of lab-based micro computed tomography aided finite element modelling of wood and its current bottlenecks

Microscopic lab-based X-ray computed tomography (XµCT) aided finite element (FE) modelling is a popular method with increasing nature within material science to predict local material properties of heterogeneous materials, e.g. elastic, hygroexpansion and diffusion. This method is relatively new to wood and lacks a clear methodology. Research intended to optimise the XµCT aided FE process often focuses on specific aspects within this process such as the XµCT scanning, segmentation or meshing, but not the entirety of the process. The compatibility and data transfer between aspects have not been investigated to the same extent, which creates errors that propagate and negatively impact the end results. In the current study, a methodology for the XµCT aided FE process of wood is suggested and its bottlenecks are identified based on a thorough literature review. Although the complexity of wood as a material makes it difficult to automate the XµCT aided FE process, the proposed methodology can assist in a more considered design and execution of this process. The main challenges that were identified include an automatic procedure to reconstruct the fibre orientation and to perform segmentation and meshing. A combined deep-learning segmentation method with geometry-based meshing can be suggested

Modeling wood fiber deformation caused by vapor expansion during steam explosion of wood

Steam explosion is a process used to enhance enzyme penetration and digestibility of wood. Wood chips are processed with high-pressure steam for a limited time, and the bonding between polysaccharides and lignin is weakened. After this processing, the pressure is rapidly reduced to induce steam explosion where the vapor inside a fiber expands and exerts pressure on the fiber walls. This pressure causes fiber deformation and breakage. In this study, fiber deformation caused by vapor expansion was simulated by single wood fibers using finite element modeling. When pressure is applied inside a fiber, it is likely to break from the corner and midway between two adjacent corners. The fiber is modeled with four layers (P, S1, S2, and S3). Although the P, S1, and S3 layers are very thin, they significantly prevent fiber deformation. The fibers with a thin wall and a low micro-fibril angle (MFA) deform more than the fibers with a thick wall and a higher MFA. It was found that the shape of the fiber plays an important role in its deformation. The areas of localized strain are the most likely places for fiber splitting. Essentially, fiber wall damage is more likely to occur in (1) thin-walled fibers, i.e., earlywood, (2) fibers with damaged P and S1 layers, (3) fibers with low MFAs, and (4) fibers with irregular cross-sections. Different chemical pretreatments, fractionation procedures, and selections of raw materials can accordingly be considered to produce easily steam-exploded materials

Microscopic computed tomography aided finiteelement modelling as a methodology to estimatehygroexpansion coefficients of wood : a case studyon opposite and compression wood in softwoodbranches

Microscopic X-ray computed tomography (XµCT) aided finite element (FE) modelling is a popular method in material science to relate material properties to heterogeneous microstructures. Recently, a methodology was developed for the XµCT aided FE modelling of wood, which characterises the process from specimen preparation to estimation of material properties. In the current research, this methodology is tested on branches of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) to estimate the hygroexpansion coefficients of opposite (OW) and compression wood (CW). These properties are largely unknown and have engineering implications. The study is complemented by measurements of density, moisture content (MC) and elastic moduli. Results showed that the methodology assisted in the design of an integrated process and the identification of bottlenecks. It was seen that the level of detail of the numerical model had a strong influence on the obtained hygroexpansion properties. CW from branches showed higher density and longitudinal shrinkage coefficients, and elastic moduli less affected by MC. These differences are unlikely caused by MC, but more likely by the characteristics of the microstructure

Effects of defects on the tensile strength of short-fibre composite materials

Abstract. Heterogeneous materials tend to fail at the weakest cross-section, where the presence of microstructural heterogeneities or defects controls the tensile strength. Short-fibre composites are an example of heterogeneous materials, where unwanted fibre agglomerates are likely to initiate tensile failure. In this study, the dimensions and orientation of fibre agglomerates have been analysed from three-dimensional images obtained by X-ray microtomography. The geometry of the specific agglomerate responsible for failure initiation has been identified and correlated with the strength. At the plane of fracture, a defect in the form of a large fibre agglomerate was almost inevitably found. These new experimental findings highlight a problem of some existing strength criteria, which are principally based on a rule of mixture of the strengths of constituent phases, and not on the weakest link. Only a weak correlation was found between stress concentration induced by the critical agglomerate and the strength. A strong correlation was however found between the stress intensity and the strength, which underlines the importance of the size of largest defects in formulation of improved failure criteria for short-fibre composites. The increased use of three-dimensional imaging will facilitate the quantification of dimensions of the critical flaws.peerReviewe

Mechanically Stretchable and Electrically Insulating Thermal Elastomer Composite by Liquid Alloy Droplet Embedment

Stretchable electronics and soft robotics have shown unsurpassed features, inheriting remarkable functions from stretchable and soft materials. Electrically conductive and mechanically stretchable materials based on composites have been widely studied for stretchable electronics as electrical conductors using various combinations of materials. However, thermally tunable and stretchable materials, which have high potential in soft and stretchable thermal devices as interface or packaging materials, have not been sufficiently studied. Here, a mechanically stretchable and electrically insulating thermal elastomer composite is demonstrated, which can be easily processed for device fabrication. A liquid alloy is embedded as liquid droplet fillers in an elastomer matrix to achieve softness and stretchability. This new elastomer composite is expected useful to enhance thermal response or efficiency of soft and stretchable thermal devices or systems. The thermal elastomer composites demonstrate advantages such as thermal interface and packaging layers with thermal shrink films in transient and steady-state cases and a stretchable temperature sensor