This research investigates the compressive properties of wood-cement particle composites made of CCA-treated wood retired from service. A total of 22 specimens were fabricated using Portland cement (type I) and wood particles from CCA-treated southern yellow pine retired from service. The specimens were made as rectangular short columns with different column aspect ratios (height/width). The cement to wood ratios by weight of the specimens were 1.5 and 1.0.
The load-deformation curves display significant nonlinearity, and indicate that the wood-cement particle composite has the capability to absorb energy. Further, the mechanical properties were not isotropic and indicate directional dependencies due to the orientation of the wood particles caused by the pressing during the manufacturing process. Short column specimens failed predominantly in shear under compressive loading irrespective of the orientation of the particles in the specimens.
The wood-cement particle composites exhibited a compressive strength comparable to that of normal concrete material. However, the strain at peak load was at least ten fold higher than that of normal concrete. The ability of such composite to sustain large plastic deformations implies that it can be used for applications where energy dissipation is required.