• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2018

Natural fibers derived from lignocellulosic materials are considered to be more environment-friendly than petroleum-based synthetic fibers. Several natural fibers, such as seedpod fibers, have a potential for development, including kapok and balsa fibers. The characteristics of both fibers were evaluated to determine their suitability for specific valuable applications. The purpose of this study was to analyze some important fundamental properties of kapok and balsa fibers, including their dimensions, morphology, chemical components, and wettability. The results showed that the average fiber lengths for kapok and balsa were 1.63 and 1.30 cm, respectively. Kapok and balsa fibers had thin cell walls and large lumens filled with air. The kapok fiber was composed of 38.09% ${\alpha}-cellulose$, 14.09% lignin, and 2.34% wax content, whereas the balsa fiber was composed 44.62% ${\alpha}-cellulose$, 16.60% lignin, and 2.29% wax content. The characteristics of kapok and balsa fibers were examined by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. The contact angle of the distilled water on kapok and balsa fibers was more than $90^{\circ}$, indicating that both fibers are hydrophobic with low wettability properties because of to the presence of wax on the fiber surface.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1345-1352
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• 2012

This paper aims to evaluate the low-velocity impact responses and mechanical properties of balsa-wood and urethane-foam core materials and their sandwich panels, which are applied as the impact limiter of a nuclear spent fuel shipping cask. For the urethane-foam core, which is isotropic, tensile, compressive, and shear mechanical tests were conducted. For the balsa-wood core, which is orthotropic and shows different material properties in different orthogonal directions, nine mechanical properties were determined. The impact test specimens for the core material and their sandwich panel were subjected to low-velocity impact loads using an instrumented testing machine at impact energy levels of 1, 3, and 5 J. The experimental results showed that both the urethane-foam and the balsa-wood core except in the growth direction (z-direction) had a similar impact response for the energy absorbing capacity, contact force, and indentation. Furthermore, it was found that the urethane-foam core was suitable as an impact limiter material owing to its resistance to fire and low cost, and the balsa-wood core could also be strongly considered as an impact limiter material for a lightweight nuclear spent fuel shipping cask.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Combustion
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.11-22
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• 1999

Combustion characteristics of the wood chips(balsa chips) were experimentally investigated with respect to the thermal recycle system of the urban waste. The urban waste contains plastics, vegetable and wood materials. Wood was chosen as an example of the one of the component of urban dust. A small wood chip was burned in a electric furnace by the micro-electric balance. The mass reduction rate was normalized by the initial mass of test piece and the time of volatile combustion end. When the mass of the wood chips(balsa chips) was larger than 0.5g, the combustion similarity was found on the normalized mass reduction rate.

• Composites Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.58-64
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• 2015

The purpose of this paper is to suggest the effective equivalent finite element model for the impact limiter of a nuclear spent fuel shipping cask made of sandwich composite panels. The sandwich composite panels were composed of a metallic facesheet and a core material made of urethane foam, balsa wood and red wood, respectively. The effective equivalent finite element model for the impact limiter was proposed by comparing the results of low-velocity impact test of sandwich panels. An explicit finite element analysis based on LS-DYNA 3D was done in this study. The results showed that the solid elements were recommended to model the facesheet and core of sandwich panels for impact limiter compared to combination modeling method, in which the layered shell element for facesheet and solid element for core material are used. In particular, the solid element for balsa and red wood core materials should be modeled by the element elimination approach.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.10a
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• pp.789-790
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• 2012

• Advances in nano research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.69-82
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• 2020

In this study, the free and forced vibration analysis of micro sandwich plate with porous core layer and magneto-electric face sheets based on modified couple stress theory and first order shear deformation theory under simply supported boundary conditions is illustrated. It is noted that the core layer is composed from balsa wood and also piezo magneto-electric facesheets are made of BiTiO₃-CoFe₂O₄. Using Hamilton's principle, the equations of motion for micro sandwich plate are obtained. Also, the Navier's method for simply support boundary condition is used to solve these equations. The effects of applied voltage, magnetic field, length to width ratio, thickness of porous to micro plate thickness ratio, type of porous, coefficient of porous on the frequency ratio are investigated. The numerical results indicate that with increasing of the porous coefficient, the non-dimensional frequency increases. Also, with an increase in the electric potential, the non-dimensional frequency decreases, while and with increasing of the magnetic potential is vice versa.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 1999

Combustion Characteristics of the wood chips(balsa chips) were experimental studied as fundamental investigation of the thermal recycle system of the urban dust. The urban dust contains plastics vegetable and lot of wood material. Then, a wood was chosen as an example of the component of urban dust. A small wood chip was burned in a electric furnace and mass reduction rate during volatile and combustion states were recorded by the micro-electric balance and the combustion flame shape took a photograph by video camera at the mass of wood chips and ambient temperature in the furance. Ignition delay took the minimum value when the mass of the test chip was 0.3g. When a mass of the test chip was smaller then 0.001g, combustion with flame did not burnt.

• Composites Research
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.408-414
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• 2020

The present engineering sector focused on the sandwich composites and almost covered all engineering fields because of decent mechanical properties with a lightweight structure. It mainly consists of high strength fiber skin and porous structure core like corrugated, honeycomb, balsa wood, and foams which is playing a pivotal role in weight reduction. Recently researchers attention grabbed by Natural fiber sandwich composites due to biodegradability, renewable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly. However special focus is highly needed towards the flammability behavior of natural fibers used as reinforcement for composites. Herein, for the first time, the flame retardant natural fiber sandwich composite was fabricated by using flame retardant treated bamboo fabric and vinyl ester via the VARTM process. The impact of flame retardant treated bamboo fabric on mechanical and flame retardant properties were studied. The results concluded that the fabricated bamboo sandwich composites show structurally lightweight with significant mechanical strength and feasibility with respect to the flame.

• Aerospace Engineering and Technology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.179-185
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• 2002

In this study, the structural design method for the modified long-endurance UAV is presented. Composite materials using room temperature curing method and wet lay up procedure is applied to all wing structures. The modified wing is composed of 3-piece component for improvement of ground handling. As the sandwich structure is efficient for light weight and high stiffness, all skin is used the sandwich consisting of glass/ epoxy fabric and balsa wood. The proof test is performed up to limit load corresponding to 4g load condition for the modified wing structure.