Abstract

Several methods to determine in-plane shear properties of anisotropic materials (i.e. fiber reinforced composite materials and natural wood) based on flexural loading have been proposed. One of those methods is the off-axis bending test that considers unidirectional composite materials subject to three-point bending (3-PB) loading. As a result of the anisotropic behaviour, unidirectional off-axis laminates subjected to flexure present a bending–twisting coupling that may cause, in the case of three-point bending loading, a lift-off of the specimen on the fixture supports. Such specimen lift-off has been considered one of the critical features to be considered on the mentioned experimental method. Besides, geometrical parameters and material elastic constants (i.e. longitudinal, transversal, and shear elastic moduli) influence the validity to use this method for characterizing in-plane shear properties. On that sense, an analytical approach for studying the material conditions for which the application of the off-axis 3-PB test is adequate to characterize natural wood is presented in this work. The condition of small displacements and the condition of lift-off between the specimen and the fixture supports have been taken into account. Some theoretical ideas regarding stress and displacement fields are also presented. The in-plane shear characterization has been performed on two natural wood species: Norway spruce (Picea abies) and beech (Fagus sylvatica). Test conditions for the off-axis 3-PB experimental bending test, in order to ensure its applicability, are presented.