Effect of Welding Energy on Three Different Interlayers on the Strength of Ultrasonic Welded Bamboo Strips

Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of welding energy on tensile strength the physical appearance of rupture of the weld interface by the ultrasonic welding for bamboo strip material in welding 3 conditions of interlayer on weld interface, which are water, Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic, and without adding anything. The bamboo strips are made of 3 years old bamboo internode of Dendrocalamus sericeus genus from Thailand at the middle zone, which was dried at temperate 105 °C in the oven and then cut by hand knife into bamboo strip with the size of 0.5 x 5 x 50 mm³. All 3 welding conditions were performed by ultrasonic machine under the same fixed force at 50 daN and fixed amplitude at 60% while the 6 different conditions, while the welding energy was varying with 50 J, 100 J, 200 J, 300 J, 400 J, and 500 J. The tensile strength determined according to the ASTM D3379 standard, and the paper grip technique was applied. The results indicated that all 3 welding conditions were nearly identical in strength when considering the optimal welding energy, with the tensile strength in range of 15-50 MPa. However, the values obtained under all conditions still provide much lower tensile strength compared with untreated bamboo bundles, which were in the range of 250-480 MPa. The damage on the weld interface was from slipping of the bamboo strips in under weld and normal weld conditions, or damage from burning on bamboo strips in over weld condition, not rupture by tensile force on the bamboo strips weld interface. However, the outcome of this study was small-scale, and the durability was not conducted. Therefore, it is suggested that ultrasonic welding for bamboo strips or other natural materials is required to add water to enhance the tensile strength and physical appearance of the welding.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 1059)
• Pages: 129-134
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-ZOzn0X
• Online since: June 2026
• Authors: Panidpim Sawangbunditkun, Itthichai Preechawuttipong*, Robert Peyroux
• Keywords: Bamboo Strip, Natural Material, Ultrasonic Welding

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