A continuum model of the interaction between manufacturing variables and consolidation of wood composite mats

Wood composites produced using aspen flakes have displayed interaction between manufacturing variables and stress-strain consolidation of these mats. This study brings an original approach to the process of wood composites within the analytical nonlinear continuum mechanics based model, developed to predict the consolidation of wood mats during part of the hot-pressing cycle. Consolidation of wood flake mats occurred principally during the closing of the press when the loose mat underwent uniaxial compression along its perpendicular direction. Forming parameters such as mat thickness, and pressing parameters such as press closing rate, were accounted for in a combined viscoelastic model with creep. The stress-strain consolidation model was applied to different formed mat structures using random and oriented layout of flakes, and although slightly higher values were obtained with the model regarding the viscoelastic behavior of the loose mat, the creep model showed a very good agreement with the experience data. These results within a continuum approach, are significant in the manufacturing of wood composites as they would enable optimization of manufacturing processes by integrating the specific conditions of the forming process of wood mats into the pressing strategy.This project is financially supported by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Strategic Grant (STR 0167246).