Study on flexural property of glass fiber-reinforced polymer reinforced wood–plastic composite panels

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) and wood–plastic composites (WPCs) have broad application prospects with the advantages of recyclability, lightweight, and corrosion resistance. However, WPCs cannot be used for bearing structures because of their poor mechanical properties. In order to improve the mechanical properties of WPCs, this study proposed a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) to reinforce the tensile zone of WPCs. The failure mode, ultimate bearing capacity, and deformation of the panels were studied by four-point bending tests and finite-element simulations. The results showed that the failure modes of the panels were a mainly flexural failure, flexural shear failure, and interface debonding, and the optimal thickness of GFRP improved the ultimate bearing capacity of the WPC panel by 205% and the deflection by 55%. Finite-element simulations of WPC reinforced with GFRP were carried out, and the densities of WPC and the angles of glass fiber layup were considered. The results showed that the higher the density of WPC, the better the strengthening effect of the structure, and the fiber layup angles had less effect.