Fracture of wood composites and wood-adhesive joints: A comparative review

This paper presents a comparative review of the literature on fracture of wood composites and wood-adhesive joints. Wood-adhesive joints are two or more adherends joined with resin in a specific geometry. Wood composites can be considered an amalgamation of wood-adhesive joints, and the effect of geometry, adherends, and resin on fracture toughness for wood-adhesive joints is similar to that of wood composites. Parameters that have similar effects on the two systems are: slenderness ratio, a purely geometrical consideration; adherend surface preparation; and bond-line uniformity, where ideally, the bond-line is self-similar along the entire length. Applicability of fracture mechanics is also demonstrated as models based on the concept of intrinsic flaws have been found to adequately predict fracture behavior of these composites.