Author(s): Atchounga Kuida Prisca, Njankouo Jacques Michel, Foadieng Emmanuel and Talla Pierre Kisito

Abstract: Nowadays one of the principal difficulties that wood structural development and construction have to face is wood creep. Nevertheless, the secret to master and solve the creep deformation of wood relies on a sensible and exact rheological model for numerical analysis. In this research work our goal is to study the nonlinear creep behaviour of the Cameroonian wood species Millettia Laurentii known as Wengé wood through fractional calculus approach. So, we have conducted a nonlinear creep constitutive model of Millettia Laurentii wood, that is the Zener fractional rheological model, and the parameters of this model have been determined. We have studied the influence of stress level σ and fractional order n on the Millettia Laurentii wood creep process by a sensitivity analysis of the model parameters. The outcomes of this sensitivity analysis are of paramount importance because they can be used in reality to inspect the creep process and deformation amount of Millettia Laurentii wood in practical engineering. Moreover, guidance for the secure construction of Millettia Laurentii wood engineering can be given by the means of the findings of this research. Our research work is novel in the sense that it is the first time that nonlinear creep behaviour of the wood species Millettia Laurentii is studied under the mentioned stress level and by the means of fractional derivatives. Memory effect materials like wood are materials that actual behaviour depends on the load history of the material that is the loads applied to the material in the pass will affect its present behaviour. In this case, fractional rheological models are the best means to solve this issue since it take into account past history of the material. Whereas, previous research works just laid emphasis on physical and mechanical properties of this wood species.

Pages: 01-07 | Views: 533 | Downloads: 326

Download Full Article: Click Here