An analytical and numerical study of some aspects of the wood chipping process

In order to model the wood chipping process, the primary process parameters have been identified and their first order interaction studied. The model is analytical and incorporates, in particular, the influence of sliding friction between the wood chipping tool and the log. To estimate the accuracy of the analytical model, a Finite Element (FE) analysis of the problem considered was also performed. The analytical model and the FE analysis are both restricted to small deformations and linear elastic orthotropic material behaviour. The most severe limitation with both the analytical and the FE model is the assumption of linearly elastic material. On the other hand it is felt that existing models of anisotropic plasticity in metals are lacking too much of physical relevance, if applied to wood. The analytical model predicts the normal and shear strain distribution in the crack-plane prior to crack initiation. The analytical distributions are in reasonable agreement with the corresponding distribution of the FE analysis. Based on experimental findings, it is suggested that the stress field over the entire crack-plane, in conjunction with the stress field close to the tip of the chipping tool, are critical for chip creation, rather than just the latter.