Fracture properties of hybrid woven bamboo/woven e-glass fiber composites

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the fracture properties of hybrid woven bamboo (WB)/woven e-glass (EG) fiber composites with various layer arrangements. This paper utilized a specific type of bamboo species named Gigantochloa Scortechinii (Buluh Semantan). Design/methodology/approach In these experiments, unsaturated polyester, woven EG and WB fibers were prepared through the hand lay-up technique. The composite bamboo strips were prepared in 1.5mm thickness. The strips are woven to make a single layer. The layer was then laminated into several thicknesses. The specimens were then characterized using compact tension fracture tests. Findings The fracture toughness of 12-14MPa was obtained. These findings suggest that this hybrid bamboo composite provides superior fracture strength that is equivalent with steel alloy and is extremely a good alternative for reinforcing fibers to combat fracture failures of materials and structures. Originality/value In this paper, experimental determination of newly developed composite made of WB and woven EG is presented.