Theoretical analysis of natural fiber volume fraction of reinforced composites

In the latest years industry is attempting to decrease the dependence on petroleum based fuels and products due to the increased environmental consciousness. This is leading to the need to investigate environmentally friendly, sustainable materials to replace existing ones, and to solve the problems of recycling of agriculture waste. We are trying to understand composites due to their high potential as a material with suitable strength, low weight and low deformation. Fiber and epoxy as lamina are used to form composite laminates with desired directional properties. Mechanical properties for composites are derived starting from properties of fiber and matrix, using the rule of mixtures, and the fiber volume fraction plays a significant role in the determination of the mechanical properties. In this work the value of the fiber volume fraction is determined considering fibrous structure constituent, random fiber, yarns or fabric. (C) 2013 Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.