Complex Behavior in the Dynamics of a Polymeric Biocomposite Material-Liquid Wood. Experimental and Theoretical Aspects

The purpose of the present paper is to analyze, both experimentally and theoretically, the behavior of the polymeric biocomposite generically known as liquid wood, trademarked as Arbofill. The experimental part refers to the mechanical performance in tension and compression, having as finality the possibility of using liquid wood as a material suitable for the rehabilitation of degraded wooden elements in civil structures (ex. use in historical buildings, monuments etc.). The theoretical part refers to computer simulations regarding the mechanical behavior of liquid wood as well as to a theoretical model in the paradigm of motion, which describes the same behavior. This model is based on the hypothesis that liquid wood can be assimilated, both structurally and functionally, to a multifractal object, situation in which its entities are described through continuous, non-differentiable curves. Then, descriptions of the behavior of liquid wood, both in the Schrodinger-type and in hydrodynamic-type representations at various scale resolutions, become operational. Since in the hydrodynamic-type representation, the constitutive law of liquid wood can be highlighted, several operational procedures (Ricatti-type gauge, differential geometry in absolute space etc.) will allow correlations between the present proposed model and the experimental data. The obtained results, both practical (81% bearing capacity in compression and 36% bearing capacity in tension, compared to control samples) and theoretical (validation of material performance in virtual environment simulations, stresses and strains correlations in a theoretical model) indicate that liquid wood could be used in the construction industry, as a potential rehabilitation material, but with more development clearly needed.

Automated summary

This paper analyzes the mechanical behavior of a polymeric biocomposite called liquid wood, both experimentally and theoretically. The experimental part evaluates its performance in tension and compression, aiming to use it for rehabilitation of degraded wooden elements in civil structures. The theoretical part includes computer simulations and a theoretical model based on the assumption that liquid wood can be described as a multifractal object. The results suggest that liquid wood could be used as a potential rehabilitation material in the construction industry, but further development is necessary.