Strength testing of Poplar duo beams, Populus x euramericana (Dode) Guinier cv. I-214, with fibre reinforcement

This report presents the results of testing to failure of a series of solid wood beams of Populus x euramericana cv. I-214, and an additional five series of duo beams of the same species, four of which were longitudinally reinforced with flax fibres glued with wet and dry application methods, with glass fibre and with carbon fibres. Testing was carried out according to the European standard EN-408, obtaining values for the modulus of rupture (MOR) and the modulus of elasticity (MOE) for each of the tested series.The results were statistically analysed and compared, determining a significant increase in strength and modulus of elasticity in the series reinforced with carbon fibre, while the other three series of reinforced beams presented no significant increase in their mechanical properties.

► No statistical differences in structural properties of solid wood beams and duo. ► ρ, MOE and MOR in duo beamspresented much less dispersion than solid wood. ► The beams with dry flax fibre presented the values of higher MOR (fm,k). ► The beams reinforced with carbon fibre had higher values of MOE (E0,mean). ► The beams reinforced had increases of 9.2% for ρ, 23.5% for MOE and 57.3% for MOR.