Degradation of a LDPE film applied as a greenhouse cover design material: the effect of ageing and mechanical modelling

Authors

  • Eduardo Garzón
  • Isabel María Ortiz Rodríguez
  • José Castillo
  • Pedro José Sánchez-Soto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7764/RDLC.17.3.457

Keywords:

LDPE films, Greenhouse covers, Dregation, Finite elements, Mechanical properties

Abstract

In this work, we studied the mechanical performance of an LDPE film (0.22 mm in thickness) used as a material in the design of greenhouse covers. We investigated the effects of ageing at different periods of its service life and applying chemical substance treatments used as pesticides on greenhouse crops and after breakage using mechanical traction. Numerical simulations were performed using the finite element method. For this purpose, one section of the complete geometry of the greenhouse cover and different load conditions (1-5 kPa) were considered for the modelling. The performance of the polymer was assumed to be linearly elastic to simplify the governing equations. The study demonstrated that the LDPE film used was no longer effective as a greenhouse cover film due to the degradation of its mechanical properties. It was shown that the general performance of this film was in the plastic zone and its performance was non-linear. The results deduced from the present study are of interest because they show the material failure process of greenhouse covers in relation to the degradation process.

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Author Biographies

Eduardo Garzón

Universidad de Almería, Departamento de Ingeniería
La Cañada de San Urbano s/n, 04120 Almería (Spain)

Isabel María Ortiz Rodríguez

Universidad de Almería, Departamento de Matemáticas
La Cañada de San Urbano s/n, 04120 Almería (Spain)

José Castillo

Universidad Autónoma de Chapingo
Km 38.5 Carretera México-Texcoco. Chapingo (Mexico)

Pedro José Sánchez-Soto


Universidad de Sevilla, Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla (ICMS)
Centro Mixto Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
c/ Américo Vespucio 49, Isla de la Cartuja, Parque Científico y Tecnológico Cartuja’93, 41092 Sevilla (Spain)

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Published

2018-12-31

How to Cite

Garzón, E., Ortiz Rodríguez, I. M., Castillo, J., & Sánchez-Soto, P. J. (2018). Degradation of a LDPE film applied as a greenhouse cover design material: the effect of ageing and mechanical modelling. Revista De La Construcción. Journal of Construction, 17(3), 457–464. https://doi.org/10.7764/RDLC.17.3.457