The statistical investigation of mechanical properties of PP/natural fibers composites

Abstract

A systematic and statistical approach to evaluate and predict the properties of random discontinuous natural fiber reinforced composites. Different composites based on polypropylene and reinforced with natural fibers have been made and their mechanical properties are measured together with the distribution of the fiber size and the fiber diameter. The values obtained have been related to the theoretical predictions, using a combination of the Griffith theory for the effective properties of the natural fibers and the Halpin-Tsai equation for the elastic modulus of the composites. The relationships between experimental results and theoretical predictions are statistically analyzed using a probability density function estimation approach based on neural networks. The results show a more accurate expected value with respect to the traditional statistical function estimation approach. In order to point out the particular features of natural fibers, the same proposed method is also applied to PP-glass fiber composites.

Fabrication of high-performance green hemp/polylactic acid fibre composites

“…For the total evaluation of both the tensile and flexural properties, the contribution factor order number is (2,3,3), and the optimum conditions in designing the present green composites are a PLA/hemp fibre ratio of 20 wt%, a forming temperature of 195°C and a forming pressure of 11 MPa. The optimum conditions suggested by multi-factor orthogonal analysis can be confirmed in our present experimental data, as shown in Figure 2.…”

“…Recently, due to environmental issues and increasing concerns about global energy, natural plant fibres that can replace traditional synthetic fibres as reinforcements in degradable composite materials have received increased attention. [1][2][3] Compared to synthetic fibres, plant fibres are more abundant and with greater output. 4 Moreover, as reinforcements in composites, they have a high specific strength, high modulus and are lightweight, cost-effective, as well as environmentally friendly.…”

Effect of prolonged water absorption on mechanical properties in cellulose fiber reinforced vinyl‐ester composites

“…Tsai and Pagano developed a method to model elastic modulus in those composites containing short fibers with random orientation . This model has similarities to Halpin and Tsai's equation.…”

A computer‐aided framework for product design with application to wheat straw polypropylene composites

“…[10][11][12][13][14][15] Costa et al, [11] for instance, employed a factorial design approach to model the flexural properties of polypropylene-wood fibre composites as a function of the amount of coupling agent and component proportions. [10][11][12][13][14][15] Costa et al, [11] for instance, employed a factorial design approach to model the flexural properties of polypropylene-wood fibre composites as a function of the amount of coupling agent and component proportions.…”

“…Alternatively, empirical models based on experimental designs have also been proposed for the prediction of natural fibre composite properties. [10][11][12][13][14][15] Costa et al, [11] for instance, employed a factorial design approach to model the flexural properties of polypropylene-wood fibre composites as a function of the amount of coupling agent and component proportions. Esfandiari [12] presented a statistical approach to predict the properties of random discontinuous natural fibre-reinforced composites based on the distribution of the geometric properties of the fibres.…”