Buckling of a structure made of a new eco-composite material

This paper reports the experimental results of a study investigating a new eco-composite material made from 100% recycled material. Tensile and density tests were conducted. A numerical model of a one-sided fixed beam was designed by the finite element method and a buckling analysis of this structure was performed. Three different cross-sections and lengths of the beam were tested. The first fundamental buckling mode and the corresponding critical load value were determined. The obtained numerical results were verified by analytical method using Euler's formula, which showed high agreement between the results. The relative error was less than 4%. A higher level of agreement was obtained for longer beams than for shorter ones. The results obtained for the eco-composite were then compared with those reported for other materials with similar properties, namely LDPE, HDPE and PP. Compared to LDPE and HDPE, the eco-composite showed higher stiffness parameters and load resistance, which made the tested structure more rigid and therefore stable for a longer period of time. The analysis of beams with different crosssections and lengths made it possible to determine the effect of these parameters on the critical load, providing valuable insights for designers. It was observed that a 100% increase in the initial rectangular cross-section of 800mm2 resulted in a 685% increase in the stiffness of the beam. A 100% increase in the initial beam length of 150mm resulted in a 75% decrease in the critical force. The results of this study have confirmed that the new eco-composite material can be effectively used in engineering structures.