Damage Evaluation of Two Equatorial Hardwoods under Uniaxial Compression: Case of Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sapelli) and Chlorophora exelcia (Iroko)

Abstract

This work aims at characterizing the evolution of the damage of two tropical hardwoods. Two species from Cameroon, the Entandrophragma Cylindricum and the Chlorora Exelcia were used for the purpose. Repeated compressive loading has been made on specimens strictly selected along with longitudinal and radial directions of each species. Each cycle was made of one phase of monotonic loading and a phase of elastic release. From data obtained, we determined the variation of Young modulus and plastic deformation during each cycle of loading, and we had deduced the damage of the material. Results show that the damage appears only after a certain threshold of the plastic deformation; that damage then grows exponentially to reach a threshold after which the failure of the material occurs. As well, we noticed that the growth of damage is accompanied by the progressive decrease of the Young modulus; this confirms the deteriorating effect of the damage on the mechanical properties. Elsewhere, the damage failure threshold is less than the theoretical value, and differs from one direction to another. Finally, we noticed that the damage failure threshold of sapelli is greater than that of iroko that allows concluding that iroko gets damaged and fails more rapidly than sapelli.