Characterization and analytical parametrization of composite in cellulose fibre and PVA matrix

Cellulose fiber and Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) glue were separately studied for their mechanical properties. Nevertheless, no works on composites made of cellulose fiber and PVA glue matrix were found in literature. The present work is focused on the characterization of the mechanical behaviour of the laminate composite made of the cellulose fiber and the PVA glue matrix. Several balanced, symmetric and quasi-isotropic samples of composite were realized. A total amount of 84 specimens were extracted according three different cutting directions and three thicknesses for the experimental characterization. The tests of laminate composite exhibit a mechanical behaviour independent from the cutting direction and the increase of the thickness provides for the decrease of the yield and ultimate stress. On the basis of the experimental results, an analytical model of the composite and the procedure, here proposed, to achieve the analytical parameters of the model were defined. The Ranberg-Osgood constitutive model, as function of the fiber fraction volume, seems to fit very well the experimental curves.