Study of Mechanical Properties of Banana-Coir Hybrid Composite using Experimental and Fem Techniques

T. Hariprasad; G. Dharmalingam; P. Praveen Raj

doi:10.15282/jmes.4.2013.16.0049

Authors

T. Hariprasad Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering CollegeTirupati, Andhra Pradesh -517102
G. Dharmalingam Department of ME SRM University,Chennai
P. Praveen Raj Department of ME, Thanthai Periyar Government Institute of Technology Bagayam, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India-632002

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15282/jmes.4.2013.16.0049

Keywords:

Banana-fiber; coir-fiber; tensile; flexural; impact; FEA model

Abstract

The use of natural fibers as reinforcement in polymers has gained importance in recent years due to their eco-friendly nature. Thus, an investigation has been undertaken on banana-coir, which is a natural fiber abundantly available in India. Natural fibers are not only strong and lightweight, but also relatively very cheap. Composite plates were prepared with resin 392 g, coir 54 g, and banana 69 g. The purpose of this work is to establish the tensile, flexural, and impact properties of banana-coir reinforced composite materials with a thermo set for treated and untreated fibers. The resin used was epoxy (EP306). The tensile and impact tests showed that treated banana-coir epoxy hybrid composites have higher tensile strength and impact strength than untreated composites. However, untreated fiber composites have greater flexural strength than the treated fiber composites. The finite element analysis (FEA) software ANSYS has been employed successfully to evaluate the properties. The stresses at the interface of the banana-coir and matrix, induced by the different loading conditions, were applied to predict the tensile, impact, and flexural properties by using the FEA models. The model output was compared with the experimental results and found to be close. This analysis is useful for realizing the advantages of hybrid fiber reinforced composites in structural applications and for identifying where the stresses are critical and damage the interface under varying loading conditions.

References

Adebisi, A. A., Maleque, M. A., & Rahman, M. M. (2011). Metal matrix composite brake rotor: historical development and product life cycle analysis. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, 4,471-480.

Bachtiar, D., Sapuan, S. M., & Hamdan, M. M. (2010). Flexural properties of alkaline treated sugar palm fibre reinforced epoxy composites. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, 1, 79-90.

Bhaskar, H. B., & Sharief, A. (2012). Effect of solutionizing on dry sliding wear of Al2024-Beryl metal matrix composite. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, 3, 281-290.

Gowda, T. M, Naidu, A. C. B., & Chhaya, R. (1999). Some mechanical properties of untreated jute fabric-reinforced polyester composites. Journal of Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 30(3), 277- 284.

Hardinnawirda, K., & SitiRabiatull Aisha, I. (2012). Effect of rice husks as filler in polymer matrix composites. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, 2, 181-186.

Haydaruzzaman, Khan, A. H., Hossain, M. A., Khan, M. A., & Khan, R. A. (2010). Mechanical properties of the coir fiber reinforced polypropylene composites: effect of the incorporation of jute fiber. Journal of Composite Materials, 44(4), 401-416.

Ibrahim, M. S., Sapuan, S. M., & Faieza, A. A. (2012). Mechanical and thermal properties of composites from unsaturated polyester filled with oil palm ash. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, 2, 133-147.

Jeffrey, K. J. T., Tarlochan, F., & Rahman, M. M. (2011). Residual strength of chop strand mats glass fiber/epoxy composite structures: effect of temperature and water absorption. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, 4, 504-519.

Khanam, P. N., Ramachandra Reddy, G., Raghu, K., & Venkata, Naidu, S. (2010). Tensile, flexural, and compressive properties of coir/silk fiber-reinforced hybrid composites. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 29(14), 2124-2127.

Kulkarni, A. G., Satyanarayana, K. G., Rohatgi, P. K., & Kalyanivijayan (1983). Mechanical properties of banana fibers. Journal of Materials Science, 18, 2290-2296.

Liu, H., Wu, Q., & Zhang, Q. (2009). Preparation and properties of banana fiber-reinforced composites based on high density polyethylene(HDPE)/Nylon-6 blends. Bioresource Technology, 100(23), 6088-6097.

Maleque, M. A., Belal, F. Y., & Sapuan, S. M. (2007). Mechanical properties study of pseudo-stem banana fiber reinforced epoxy composite. The Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 32(2B), 359-364.

Otieno, A., Tatara, R., & Suraparaju, S. (2006). Analytical and experimental studies of properties of ethanol co product-filled plastics. Proceedings of the 2006 IJME- INTERTECH Conference, pp.1-12.

Pothan, L. A., Thomas, S., & George, J. (2012). Tensile and impact properties of banana fiber/glassfibrehybrid polyester composites. International Committee on Composite Materials, Europe, pp. 190-200.

Prasanna, V. G., & Subbaiah, V. K. (2011). Chemical resistance and compressive properties of banana-palmyra fibers reinforced epoxy-unsaturated polyster

blended composites. International of Multidisciplinary Research and Advances in Engineering, 3(2), 123-130.

Srinivasababu, N., Rao, K. M. M., & Suresh Kumar, J. (2009). Experimental determination of tensile properties of okra, sisal and banana fiber reinforced polyester composites. Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 2(7), 35-38.

Umar, A. H., Zainudin, E. S., & Sapuan, S. M. (2012). Effect of accelerated weathering on tensile properties of kenaf reinforced high-density polyethylene composites. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences, 2, 198-205.

Wallenberg, F. T., & Weston, N. (2004). Natural fibers, plastics and composites natural. Texas: Materials Source Book.