Strength predictions of clear wood at multiple scales using numerical limit analysis approaches

摘要

This work aims at a new approach for understanding failure mechanisms and predicting wood strengths, which are strongly influenced by the complex hierarchical material system of wood. Thus, a mechanical concept, where different microstructural characteristics are incorporated, appears to be necessary, based on the division of wood into meaningful scales of observation. At each scale, effective strength properties are to be determined and a multiscale approach needs to be applied, for which conventional numerical methods appear to be inefficient. In this work, numerical limit analysis approaches are further developed and applied for the first time to wood, complementing conventional methods successfully at certain scales of observation in a multiscale 'damage' approach.