
Natural fiber composites have proven elusive to large scale use in industry due to their lower mechanical properties than glass or carbon fibers despite their low cost, natural availability, and sustainable sourcing. A method to overcome this obstacle is by placing the fibers in the optimum orientation to best resist the stresses the component is subjected to. This is achieved through a simple analysis of the part’s stress distribution and then using the Tailor Fiber Placement (TFP) process to orient the fibers to optimally resist these stresses. In this study holed Bamboo-Polyester Composite Plates (BPCP) were made using Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM), compression molding and TFP processes. Different fiber orientations and crack resistance patterns were devised to compare the performance of the natural fibers to drilled Fiber Glass Chopped Strand Matts (FGCSM). The study showed that for a tensile test of a rectangular composite plate with a fiber content of 25% Volume, the holed BPCP exhibited a 65 MPa tensile strength and 1.75% strain, which is 172% and 145% of that of a comparable drilled FGCSM plate with the same fiber volume fraction respectively.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
