An investigation into mechanical properties of jute–polyester laminates for numerical prediction of strength and failure

Abstract

The study of natural fiber–based composites, which are being seen as a potential eco‐friendly alternative to popular synthetic fiber–reinforced composites, has, of late, gained considerable momentum. Replacing the latter composites is, however, an uphill task especially for advanced mechanical and structural engineering applications, which often require assessment of behaviors of materials and components numerically till failure. An implied scenario, for example, would be to design automotive body components using natural fiber–reinforced composites of sufficient strength for meeting crashworthiness requirements. In the current study, bi‐directionally woven jute fabric, due to its established supply base and consistent quality, has been chosen along with a general purpose polyester resin for fabrication of laminates of high fiber volume fraction obtained by combining the hand layup method with compression molding. A detailed and comprehensive mechanical characterization includes, for the first time, determination of tensile, compressive, shear, and flexural behaviors of jute–polyester laminates in a single unified study. The consistency of the generated mechanical properties, including deployment of secant moduli instead of conventional initial tangent moduli, in a finite element constitutive model is established by predicting the test‐based stress–strain or load–displacement behaviors and failure modes using a commercially available explicit nonlinear dynamic analysis code viz. LS‐DYNA.

Prediction Models of Mechanical Properties of Jute/PLA Composite Based on X-ray Computed Tomography

“…A comparison of the experimental and theoretical values shows that the modulus of elasticity of the short jute/PLA composite decreases as the loading angle increases. When the loading angle was 0°, the elastic modulus of the composite was 1.15 GPa, which was similar to the value measured by Karthika [ 45 ]. When the loading angle was close to 40°, the modulus of elasticity of the composite was 0.75 GPa, which was less than the modulus of elasticity of the matrix, of 0.85 GPa, indicating that the short jute fibers no longer played a reinforcing role.…”

High‐strength wood‐based composites via laminated delignified wood veneers with different adhesive contents for structural applications

“…With the growing global demand for energy, coupled with an increasing awareness of environmental protection, there is, therefore, a rapidly increasing demand to replace synthetic engineering materials with natural renewable materials. [4][5][6] As a renewable and degradable biomaterial in nature, wood is a critical material for the transition to a sustainable society and low-carbon economy. [7][8][9] Compared with steel, alloy, glass, and carbon fibers, wood has excellent characteristics, including a high strength-to-weight ratio and low energy consumption in the production process.…”

Exploration of novel fiber‐metal laminates sandwich structures with cellulosic ramie woven core

“…Nonetheless, synthetic fibers has led to occupational health issues and carbon dioxide emissions during fiber production. [ 9 ] In recent years, the increasing environmental awareness and consciousness have driven the research communities toward using eco‐friendly and renewable materials to replace synthetic‐based products. On this point, natural fibers have been recognized as an alternative to synthetic fibers.…”