Abstract
Modulus I interlaminar fracture toughness of wood laminated composite materials has been evaluated using the critical strain energy release rate associated with the onset of crack growth in double cantilever beam specimens (DCB). The advantage of using the DCB test for determining the critical strain energy release rate in the case of wood laminated composites relies on the working method which is focused on failure analysis in adhesive layer through the presence of initial interlaminar crack, but also due to the energetic approach in deduction of calculus relations. Data analysis was conducted by two methods namely, the corrected compliance method which is based on the linear elastic fracture mechanics principles, and the area method which accounts the whole shape of load-displacement curve obtained through a complete loading-unloading cycle. In general there is a good agreement between the results obtained by the two methods and those reported in literature. Keywords: wood laminated composites, interlaminar fracture, critical strain energy release rate, Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) specimen