Transverse fracture toughness of transparent wood biocomposites by FEM updating with cohesive zone fracture modeling

Little is known about fracture toughness of monomer-impregnated wood biocomposites, with no data for transparent wood. For building applications, important, but the anisotropic nature generates complex stress distributions that needs to be accounted for. A four-point bending mechanics test combined digital image correlation (DIC) measurements displacement fields and finite element model updating. The elastic parameters an orthotropic composite a cohesive zone are determined from one transverse crack growth experiment. tangential-longitudinal (TL) cracks was lower than expected, as explained by local peeling cell wall.