Numerical and experimental analyses of biocomposites reinforced with natural fi...

• Author(s): Silva, Leandro J. ; Panzera, Túlio Hallak ; Christoforo, André Luis ; Durão, Luís M. ; Lahr, Francisco Antonio Rocco
• Date: 2012
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/4148
• Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico do Porto
• Subject(s): Natural composites; Sisal fibres; Banana fibres; Finite element analysis
• Document Type: Article
• Language: English

Description

n the last decades the biocomposites have been widely used in the construction, automobile and aerospace industries. Not only the interface transition zone (ITZ) but also the heterogeneity of natural fibres affects the mechanical behaviour of these composites. This work focuses on the numerical and experimental analyses of a polymeric composite fabricated with epoxy resin and unidirectional sisal and banana fibres. A three-dimensional model was set to analyze the composites using the elastic properties of the individual phases. In addition, a two-dimensional model was set taking into account the effective composite properties obtained by micromechanical models. A tensile testing was performed to validate the numerical analyses and evaluating the interface condition of the constitutive phases.