Loading Variable Effects on Fatigue Behavior of Wood Flour High-Density Polyethylene Composites

Abstract

Abstract This article investigated the flexural fatigue properties of wood flour high-density polyethylene composites. Composites with polymer matrix were fabricated and subjected to three-point bending fatigue tests. Cyclic loads were performed at different loading ratios (0.1 and 0.3) and frequencies (0.9 and 5.2 Hz) to determine the effect of these parameters on the fatigue behavior of composite samples. Cyclic stress amplitude versus number of cycles to failure curves of experiments were plotted and compared. For safe fatigue design and material reliability index, a 95 % confidence interval band of fatigue lives were plotted. Stiffness reduction approach was used to evaluate and monitor damage evolution. An experiment like this provides insight into fatigue properties of wood-fiber plastic composites to improve the life of parts under cyclic loading.