Natural fiber-reinforced polymer for structural application

The glued laminated lumber (glulam) beams technique is an efficient process for making sustainable use of wood. Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) associated with glulam provide significant gains in terms of strength and stiffness, as well as modify the rupture mode of these structural elements. Certain natural fibersdisplay sufficient mechanical properties to reinforce the polymer used in the glulam technique. This chapter presents a theoretical analysis considering the behavior of stressed lumber and fibers in glulam beam of Pinus sp. and Eucalyptus sp. with and without natural fiber-reinforced polymer (NFRP), and a numerical analysis evaluating the stresses and displacements in glulam beams using the finite element method. Curauá, bamboo, and jute fibers were used for reinforcement. NFRP introduced in the tensioned section of glulam beams guaranteed a gain of strength and stiffness in function of the thickness percentage of NFRP used. In terms of maximum stresses and vertical displacement, theoretical and numerical analyses provided analogous results.