Understanding the impact of fiber orientation on mechanical, interlaminar shear strength, and fracture properties of jute-banana hybrid composite laminates

Jute and banana fibers are biodegradable green fibers being increasingly used to replace synthetic fibers in fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Integration of jute and banana distinct natural fibers has the potential to improve composite performance in secondary structural applications. In this study, an equal quantity of unidirectional jute and banana fibers with four different fiber orientations [(0/0)(3s), (0/45)(3s), (0/90)(3s), and (+45/-45)(3s)] was embedded in phenol formaldehyde resin to make hybrid laminates using the hot press method. Tensile, flexural, impact, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and single-end notch bend tests are performed in accordance with the ASTM standards to evaluate the effect of fiber orientation on natural fiber hybrid composites (NFHCs). Experimental results revealed that changing the fiber orientations [(0/0)(3s)] leads to a major impact on reducing the mechanical properties of NFHC laminates to the extent of 39%. Furthermore, the tensile strength, Young's modulus, impact and ILSSs, and fracture toughness were found to be 37% higher for the (0 degrees/0 degrees)(3s) composite. Additionally, tensile, flexural, and impact fractured specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy to understand the fiber-matrix failure behavior due to inter-ply orientation in NFHCs.

Automated summary

The study found that changing fiber orientation significantly affects the mechanical properties of natural fiber hybrid composites, with (0 degrees/0 degrees)(3s) composite displaying superior performance.