Effect of Number of Tests on the Mechanical Characteristics of <i>Agave sisalana</i> Yarns for Composites Structures: Statistical Approach

Abstract

A designer of sustainable biocomposite structures and natural ropes needs to have a high confidence interval (95% CI) for mechanical characteristics data of performance materials, yet qualities for plant-based fibers are very diverse. A comprehensive study of the elements that enhance the performance of biocomposites or sustainable ropes created from vegetable fibers is necessary. The current study included five groups with varying numbers (N) of tests of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 on the mechanical characteristics at room temperatures. The purpose of this study was to determine how changing N affects the mechanical properties of sisal yarn. These properties include its strength, Young’s modulus, and deformation at rupture. A significance testing program including more than 100 tests was performed. Owing to the heterogeneity of the plant yarn, each group received more than 20 samples at a gauge length (GL) of 100 mm. The tensile strength characteristics of sisal yarns produced a wide range of findings, as is common for natural fibers, necessitating a statistical analysis. Its dispersion was explored and measured using the statistical methods. The Weibull distribution with two parameters and a prediction model with a 95% confidence level for maximum likelihood (ML) and least squares (LS) were used to investigate and quantify its dispersion.

Keywords

• sisal fiber
• yarn
• mechanical testing
• hazard function
• statistical methods
• SEM