The Flexural Characteristics of Prestressed Bamboo Slivers Reinforced Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL)

Abstract

A novel kind of parallel strand lumber (PSL) was produced, in which bamboo slivers with viscoelastic deformation were mixed with poplar veneer strands at a weight ratio of 1:4 as raw materials, then the flexural characteristics of PSL were investigated. The results showed that stretching treatment was an effective method to generate viscoelastic deformation of bamboo slivers, which would induce prestress in the bamboo slivers, reinforced PSL. The modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of prestressed bamboo slivers reinforced PSL were 7.84% and 11.76% higher than that of control PSL respectively. The flexural toughness index of prestressed bamboo slivers reinforced PSL was increased by 27.55% compared with control PSL. The presence of prestress in bamboo slivers reinforced PSL significantly enhanced its flexural stiffness and toughness, while it had no obvious effect on its flexural strength.