The hybrid glass/jute fiber composites were fabricated by hand layup (HL) and vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) method using epoxy and isophthalic polyester resins as matrices. The effects of fiber and matrix type as well as fabrication method on the tensile and flexural mechanical strength of resulting composites were investigated. The morphological fracture was analyzed based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Also, the curing characteristics of two matrix resins was studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). For glass fiber composite, the curing rate of polyester resin is faster at 100 °C than that of composite with epoxy matrix. Using VARTM process, the composite with high fiber volume fraction (V f) of 52% was obtained.

Cost reduction, light weighting, quality and safety are the basis for all design and development of automobile component manufacturing. Low cost with high quality components can be produced by proper material selection, material cost, production volume, manufacturing process. This paper investigates the existing metallic bonnet with a new low cost and light weight composite bonnet. Fibers such as glass and jute along with matrixes of polyester and epoxy resin are selected for part fabrication. Using reverse engineering process design is extracted from original metallic bonnet and is redesigned for FRP application. Hand lay-up and VARTM manufacturing process are compared to fabricate FRP bonnet. Important factors that involve in bonnet under real time damages are impact of child head-form during accident is analyzed as per Euro-NCAP standard. From the result VARTM based glass/ polyester composite is found to be a better candidate for fabrication. Keywords: Predestrain safety, Reverse enginneering, hand layup, VARTM, Analysis.