Abstract
THE work of fracture (that is, the energy needed in order to form a fracture surface roughly at right angles to the grain direction) is, for timber, exceptionally high in relation to other mechanical properties and density. It compares well, on a weight basis, with that of ductile metals. Our tests on air dry (12% moisture content) pitchpine (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) for instance, give a mean value of 0.92 × 104 J m−2. That is far higher than the energy needed to break the interatomic bonds in any given cross section of timber (which can hardly exceed 2 J m−2). It also seems to be noticeably higher than the energy that is likely to be absorbed by the fibre pull-out mechanisms which operate in conventional, artificial fibre composites1. There is reason therefore to suspect the existence of a special energy absorbing mechanism during fracture in trees and presumably, in other, plants.
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References
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GORDON, J., JERONIMIDIS, G. Work of fracture of natural cellulose. Nature 252, 116 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/252116a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/252116a0
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