Influence of Stacking Sequence and Fiber Content on the Mechanical Properties of Natural and Synthetic Fibers Reinforced Penta-Layered Hybrid Composites

Abstract

The objective of this work is to find the influence of fiber content, stacking pattern, and their sequence on the mechanical properties of hybrid composites. Hybrid composites in four varieties with five laminae containing different stacking sequences of jute/madar/glass fibers were fabricated using hand-layup technique with glass fiber woven mats as their skin layers that just enclose bio-fibers oriented horizontally. The stacking sequences were GJMJG, GMJMG, GJGJG and GMGMG where G, J, and M represents glass fiber mats, jute, and madar fibers, respectively. The fibers in the core layer were oriented perpendicular to the enclosing adjacent plies and they may be jute/madar fibers depending on the stacking sequence. Load Vs deflection curves show that stress and strain were linear and all the samples fail abruptly except the sample that contains high proportion of madar fibers. Jute fiber layers imparted more strength and energy-absorbing capacity, whilst madar fiber layers imparted more strain and toughness to the composites. Studies showed that intercalation of glass fiber mats as the core and skin layers exhibited a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the composites than other samples. The morphology of the fractured samples exhibited compatibility between matrix and reinforcements.

Keywords

• hybrid composites
• stacking sequence
• mechanical properties
• jute/madar fibers
• glass fiber mats
• fractured surfaces