Evaluation of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Poplar Scrimber

The mechanical properties of poplar scrimber reinforced with glass fiber mesh were investigated. The influence of the different structures and densities were studied with respect to the modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and impact toughness (IT). The glass fiber improved the mechanical properties of poplar scrimber. The MOR, MOE, and IT of the scrimber had an obvious dependence on the number of glass fiber layers. When the layers of glass fiber meshes were increased, the MOR, MOE, and IT were increased compared to the control group (scrimber without glass fiber reinforcement). The MOR, MOE, and IT of single-layer glass fiber reinforced scrimber increased a lot compared to the control group. The MOR, MOE, and IT of double-layer glass fiber reinforced scrimber (DGRS) were increased, but the amplitude of the increase was smaller than that of SGRS. Compared to the MOR, MOE, and IT of DGRS, the MOR, MOE, and IT of triple-layer glass fiber reinforced scrimber (TGRS) decreased slightly. When the density was increased, the increasing rate of the MOR, MOE, and IT of the glass fiber reinforced scrimber showed a downward trend, and the glass fiber had better strengthen effects on the scrimber at low density (0.6 g/cm(3) and 0.7 g/cm(3)).