Ray scattering in fiber-reinforced transparent wood composites – wood microstructural effects and virtual camera simulation

Transparent wood (TW) is a sustainable composite material with high optical transmittance and excellent mechanical properties. Nanoparticles, dyes and quantum dots can be added in a controlled manner for new functionalities relying on the light scattering properties of the composite. The scattering properties of 3D TW models of cellular microstructure are investigated numerically using geometrical optics. A group of 3D TW material models with controlled microstructural parameters are generated based on an analytical method. A ray tracing approach is adopted to model scattering in these complex materials. Effects from different material parameters on ray scattering are analyzed. A virtual camera or virtual eye to render images positioned behind a TW plate is simulated using backward ray tracing. The blurred impression in human eyes of real objects viewed through a TW “window” can then be mimicked. • Effects of different parameters on light scattering of transparent wood are studied. • Distortion-map-based method simulates various 3D transparent wood structures. • Ray tracing simulates the scattering in different 3D transparent wood structures. • Backward ray tracing mimics the blurring effect through a transparent wood.