Quantification of compression failure propagation in wood using digital image pattern recognition

Initiation and propagation of compression failures in the wood of southern yellow pine were investigated at the microscopic level. Small site specimens (1 by 1 by 4 mm) were prepared and tested in a microtesting device. Failure initiation and propagation in the specimens under axial compressive stress were quantified using the strain field measurement in conjunction with digital image pattern recognition. Then the failure initiation and propagation were related to the structure at the microscopic level. Under axial compression, the strain profile shows that deformation in wood is not uniform but closely related to the morphology of wood. Both fusiform rays and uniseriate rays cause disturbance in the deformation field. Fiber buckling is the major factor for the local failures as well as the complete compression failure in the specimens. The propagation of the complete compression failure appears to follow the local failures.

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