A micro-CT investigation of densification in pressboard due to compression

As a non-destructive inspection method, micro-computed tomography has been employed for determining local properties of a cellulose-based product, specifically pressboard. Furthermore, by utilizing the determined properties in a detailed numerical model, by means of a finite element analysis, we demonstrate a continuum anisotropic viscoelastic-viscoplastic model. Through such a combination of non-invasive experiments with accurate computations in mechanics, we attain a better understanding of materials and its structural integrity at a pre-production stage increasing the success of the first prototype. In detail, this combination of micro-computed tomography and finite element analysis improves accuracy in predicting materials response by taking into account the local material variations. Specifically, we have performed indentation tests and scanned the internal structure of the specimen for analysing the densification patterns within the material. Subsequently, we have used a developed material model for predicting the response of material to indentation. We have computed the indentation test itself by simulating the mechanical response of high-density cellulose-based materials. In the end, we have observed that pressboard, having initially a heterogeneous density distribution through the thickness, shows a shift in the densification to the more porous part after indentation. The densification maps of the simulated results are presented by comparing with the experimental results. A reasonable agreement is observed between the experimental and the simulated densifications patterns, which suggests that the proposed methodology can be used to predict densification also for other fibre-based materials during manufacturing or in service loading.