article · Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Natural fibre reinforced polymer composites provide strong mechanical performance when woven, but the impact behaviour of different weaving orientations requires detailed characterisation. In this investigation, woven sisal fibre reinforced polyester composites were manufactured using a hand lay-up method with forty weight percent fibre content and sixty weight percent polyester matrix. Four distinct fibre orientations were assessed: 30°/60°, 30°/−45°, 0°/90°, and 45°/−45°. The sisal yarns were prepared on wooden frames and impregnated for dimensional stability, with specimens evaluated through scanning electron microscopy and Izod impact testing. The experimental findings show that fibre orientation significantly influences energy absorption. Composites featuring a 45°/−45° weave orientation with two-millimetre tow spacing achieved the highest average impact resistance at 342.67 Joules per metre. By comparison, composites configured with a 30°/60° orientation recorded an average impact strength of 241.33 Joules per metre.
Understanding how weave geometry alters impact resistance helps engineers select suitable natural fibre configurations for semi-structural parts. Plant-based fibres such as sisal provide renewable alternatives to synthetic reinforcements, but their mechanical response depends heavily on fibre alignment. Quantifying these differences allows manufacturers to optimise impact resistance without relying on trial and error.
The abstract positions these composites for semi-structural components, which could be relevant to manufacturers developing bio-based composite panels or parts. With the materials prepared by hand lay-up and evaluated using laboratory Izod impact testing, the technology is at an early experimental stage. Substantial further testing, scale-up of manufacturing methods, and standardisation would be required before commercial adoption.
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Woven natural fiber reinforced polymer composites have better tensile, flexural, and compressive strength compared to the mechanical properties of unidirectional and randomly oriented NFRPC because of the interlacing of fiber bundles. However, the characterization of impact behavior with different fiber orientation such as 30°/60°, 0/90°, 30°/−45°, and 45°/−45° woven sisal fiber reinforced polyester composite was not studied vigorously. Thus, this paper focuses on the experimental characterization of the impact resistance behavior on woven sisal fiber reinforced polyester composite materials for semistructural part by using Izod impact testing setup. The 30°/60°, 30°/−45°, 0°/90°, and 45°/−45° woven sisal fiber was prepared using nailed wooden frame as a warp and weft guider. The woven sisal fiber was impregnated in order to make woven sisal fiber dimensionally stable. Using 40% by weight of fiber and 60% by weight of polyester, the composite was developed using hand layup process. The morphology and cross‐sectional elemental detection was carried out using scanning electron microscope (SEM) assessment in leather development institute (LDI). Finally, impact tests were carried out using Izod impact testing setup in Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (ASTU). The average impact strength of a 40 wt% fiber 45°/−45° woven sisal fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composite (WSFRPC) test specimen with consecutive warp and weft tow spacing of 2 mm was 342.67 J/m and this was greater energy compared to the other orientations. But the average impact strength of a 40 wt% fiber 30°/60° WSFRPC of test specimen with consecutive warp and weft tow spacing of 2 mm was 241.33 J/m.
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DOI: 10.1155/2021/6669600
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