Dynamic Mechanical and Free Vibration Behavior of Natural Fiber Braided Fabric Composite: Comparison With Conventional and Knitted Fabric Composites

Dynamic mechanical and experimental modal analysis has been performed on braided yarn woven fabric reinforced polyester composites and results are compared with those of conventional twisted yarn woven fabric and knitted woven fabric composites. The results revealed that storage modulus shows an increasing trend across conventional woven, knitted and braided woven fabric reinforcement, in that order. It is also observed that intra-ply hybridization enhances storage modulus and material loss factor of the conventional woven fabric and knitted woven fabric composites. It is also observed that knitted fabric composites have higher loss factors compared with conventional and braided fabric composites. Experimental modal analysis results reveal that the braided yarn fabric enhances the stiffness of the composite structure and hence results in higher natural frequencies while knitted fabric reinforcement enhances modal loss factor of the composite structure due the spiral orientation of yams and large gaps associated with between the yarns in killed fabric. (C) 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers