A comprehensive analysis carried out on the mechanical and free vibration properties of woven natural fiber polymer composites is presented. Jute fabric with three different weave types (plain, basket and herringbone) and intra-ply woven jute-banana fabrics are considered for investigation of the effect of weave type of a fabric and its stacking sequence on mechanical, dynamic mechanical and free vibration properties. Enhancement of the properties is found with the number of layers of fabric and better properties obtained for four layers. Uniform stress distribution along warp and weft direction of fabric with basket weave type lead to better properties compared to other weave types for four-layered composites. Intra-ply hybridization of jute-banana also enhances the mechanical properties but slightly less than the jute-basket fabric composite. The investigations on effect of layer sequence of fabrics revealed improvement in mechanical properties. Layered composite with relatively strong intra-ply fabric as the facing layer and relatively weak jute plain fabrics as the core layer has higher tensile and flexural properties. Experimental modal analysis carried out on beam-like composite laminates reveal that natural frequencies and associated modal damping factor are significantly influenced by stacking sequence and weave type of a fabric. The density of the composite calculated based on Archimedes principle matches well with the theoretical values.

Influence of nature of weaving pattern and intra-ply hybridization of natural fibers on dynamic mechanical and free vibration characteristics of woven banana/jute polyester composite has been investigated. Results revealed that basket-type composite has better dynamic properties due to uniform stress distribution in both warp and weft directions. Warp jute fiber and weft banana fiber (WJWB) and both warp and weft banana and jute fiber (WAWBJ) intra-ply hybrid composites have better dynamic mechanical behavior as relatively stronger fiber is oriented along the loading direction. Experimental modal analysis carried out on beam-like samples revealed that warp and weft banana and jute fiber intra-ply hybrid composite has better natural frequencies while huckaback woven and warp banana fiber and weft jute fiber composites have better modal damping factors.

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