research_article September 20, 2026

Assessment of the Structural Properties of Waste-Derived Particleboards Using SolidWorks Finite Element Modelling

Okoli Collins Chukwuebuka, SHEHU, Auwalu Sani, Engr. Dr Timothy Nnaemeka Adibe
Volume1
Issue3
Pages167-177
DOI10.5281/zenodo.22855353
Abstract

This study assessed the physical, mechanical and simulated structural properties of particleboards produced from selected waste materials using SolidWorks finite element modelling. Five particleboard materials were produced from rice husk, sawdust, ground oil-palm fruit chaff, ground breadfruit seed coating and shredded plastic waste, while commercially available medium-density fibreboard (MDF) was used as the control. Physical properties including density, moisture content, ash content, water absorption and thickness swelling were determined, while mechanical properties including compressive strength, impact energy, modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were evaluated. The SolidWorks simulations were performed using static finite element analysis with solid meshes and experimentally derived material properties. The maximum simulated von Mises stresses were 0.0359, 0.0278, 0.0248, 0.0263 and 0.0139 MPa for samples A–E, respectively, while the corresponding maximum displacements were 0.102, 0.083, 0.161, 0.100 and 0.601 mm. The results indicated that rice-husk particleboard exhibited the most favourable overall structural behaviour among the biodegradable-waste particleboards, whereas the shredded-plastic board exhibited the largest displacement and poorest simulated response. Nevertheless, the biodegradable-waste boards generally showed inferior structural performance compared with the MDF control. The study therefore concludes that the investigated materials have greater potential for non-load-bearing applications than for primary structural members. The integration of experimental testing with SolidWorks modelling provides a useful approach for preliminary assessment and optimization of waste-derived composite materials.

Keywords
Particleboardbiodegradable wasterice husksawdustoil-palm fruit fibrebreadfruit seed coatingSolidWorksfinite element analysisstructural propertiessustainable materials.
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