TENSILE TEST ANALYSIS OF

NATURAL FIBER REINFORCED

COMPOSITE
PRESENTED BY
D.VADIVEL
Final Year M.E Aeronautical Engineering
Er.perumal Manimekalai College
HOSUR

ABSTRACT
This Paper mainly deals with analysis of tensile
properties of Palmyra fiber Reinforced Epoxy
Composite that is suitable for automobile application.
First, the property of material was obtained on the
basis of some assumptions (i.e., Rule of Mixture) and
was modeled with reference to ASTM D638.
Here the simulation was carried out on specimen
under different fiber volume fraction and fiber length.
The present work includes the Analysis of Palmyra
Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composites using FEA with
various fiber volume fractions and these results were
validated with the experimental results.

INTRODUCTION
The main advantage of using the composite concept
in structural components lies in the high stiffness and
strength to weight ratios.
In
order to use these materials in different
applications, the knowledge of their static properties is
essential.
The
development of their use in real service
conditions requires additional information on their
dynamic properties and durability.
In the literature, a significant number of studies
concerning the fatigue of composite materials were
reported.

DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM
Conventional material like ferrous and non-ferrous
materials have some of the problems like higher
weight, economical cost, availability.
For certain applications, the use of composites rather
than metals has in fact resulted in savings of both
cost and weight.
In such cases nature fiber materials are used to
rectify those problems.

BENEFITS OF NATURAL FIBER

COMPOSITES
It has ability to meet diverse design requirements with
significant weight savings as well as strength-to-weight
ratio.
Tensile strength of composites is four to six times greater
than that of steel or Aluminum.
Improved tensional stiffness and impact properties.
Higher fatigue endurance limit (up to 60% of ultimate
tensile strength).
30% - 40% lighter for example any particular Aluminum
structures designed to the same functional requirements.

CAR PARTS
Exterior body
parts

Car Hood

Door panels
Front bumpers and
fenders

Various interior
parts

MATERIAL SELECTION

METHODOLOGY
FEA modeling of Natural fiber reinforced
polymer composites using Palmyra fibers and
resin for different volume fraction.
Tensile strength of (ASTM) modeled specimen
is obtained by using ANSYS.
Then the FEA results and experimental results
are to be compared.

ASTM SPECIMEN (D638)

DIMENSIONS

PROPERTIES OF MATERIAL

MODEL SPECIMEN D638

MESHING MODEL

SOLUTION

GENERAL POST PROCESSOR

STRESS DISTRIBUTIONS ON
COMPOSITE PLATE

STRAIN DISTRIBUTIONS ON
COMPOSITE PLATE

ANSYS RESULT FOR TREATED

FIBER
Fiber length

Load N

strain

Stress

(treated fiber)

Displacement (mm)

(N/ sq.mm)

1618.2

0.185

25.519

12.773

1667.2

0.190

25.982

13.158

1618.16

0.417

23.247

14.578

1882.94

0.189

26.921

13.169

2059.47

0.182

25.943

12.659

3 mm

5 mm

ANSYS RESULT FOR UNTREATED

FIBER
Fiber length

Load N

strain

Stress

(untreated fiber)

Displacement (mm)

(N/ sq.mm)

1304.33

0.192

25.961

13.010

1529.89

0.193

30.450

13.479

1500.47

0.193

23.31

13.478

1765.26

0.184

22.219

12.794

1500.47

0.193

23.31

13.478

3 mm

5 mm

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Prepare the Palmyra fibre and Epoxy composite.
The fiber included for chemical treatment.
Die was prepared for required dimensions.
Taking five samples for testing (treated and
untreated fibre).
Cut the samples piece respect to the ASTM
standards.
Tested the tensile properties.

STANDARD SPECIMEN

TENSOMETER
(TENSILE TEST MACHINE)

RESULT FOR TREATED FIBER

Fiber length

Load N

strain

Stress

(treated fiber)

Displacement (mm)

(N/ sq.mm)

1618.2

0.129

20.9

6.485

1667.2

0.126

20.64

6.341

1618.16

0.436

20.34

7.181

1882.94

0.152

23.84

7.606

2059.47

0.159

26.24

7.962

3 mm

5 mm

RESULT FOR UNTREATED

FIBER
Fiber length

Load N

strain

Stress

(untreated fiber)

Displacement (mm)

(N/ sq.mm)

1304.33

0.151

16.5

7.552

1529.89

0.144

19.23

7.198

1500.47

0.159

19.11

7.954

1765.26

0.142

22.16

7.113

1500.47

0.113

18.69

6.680

3 mm

5 mm

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The percentage of error can be calculated based
on the comparison of experimental and analytical
results.
The results were shown in the tables. The
analytical values from ansys were obtained by
applying the maximum load at failure and the
results were compared with the experimental
results.

TABLE 10.1 ERROR PERCENTAGE

OF STRAIN (UNTREATED FIBER)
Fiber length

Experimental strain

Analytical strain

% of error

0.151

0.192

21.4

0.144

0.193

25.4

0.159

0.193

17.7

0.142

0.184

22.9

0.113

0.153

26.14

(untreated fiber)

3 mm

5 mm

TABLE 10.2 ERROR PERCENTAGE

OF STRESS (UNTREATED FIBER)
Fiber length

Experimental stress

Analytical stress

% of error

16.5

21.961

24.86

19.13

25.450

24.8

19.23

23.31

14.6

22.16

22.29

5.84

18.69

23.31

19.09

(untreated fiber)

3 mm

5 mm

ERROR PERCENTAGE OF
STRAIN (TREATED FIBER)
Fiber length

Experimental strain

Analytical strain

% of error

0.129

0.185

30.27

0.126

0.190

33.6

0.436

0.417

4.35

0.152

0.189

19.57

0.159

0.182

12.6

(treated fiber)

3 mm

5 mm

ERROR PERCENTAGE OF
STRESS (TREATED FIBER)
Fiber length

Experimental stress

Analytical stress

% of error

20.9

25.519

18.10

20.64

25.982

20.5

20.34

23.247

12.50

23.84

26.921

11.44

26.24

25.943

1.131

(treated fiber)

3 mm

5 mm

CONCLUSION
The exploration of mechanical properties of natural fiber
reinforced composite was done by using analytical method
and experimental method.
This project mainly focuses on tensile strength of Palmyra
nature fiber composite. The ASTM (D638) specimens were
used to done the tensile test.
The experimental results were compared with the analytical
result and error percentage was determined.
From the comparison tables it was proved that the tensile test
for the composite ASTM can be done with the guide of
Ansys software itself with less error percentage.
This project work facility the research for doing their tensile
test analysis for various fiber and resin with the help of
procedure derived in this project work.

SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK

This study leaves wide scope for future investigations.
It can be extended to newer composites using other
reinforcing phases and the resulting experimental findings
can be similarly analyzed.
Many other aspects of this problem like effect of fiber
orientation, weight fraction of ceramic fillers on wear
response of such composites require further investigation.
Statistical validation has been enhanced to Response
Surface Methodology.
Compressive testing can be done for the ASTM specimens
in Ansys software.
The error percentage can be minimized by improving
convergence technicques in Ansys.

REFERENCE
[1] Ferreire.J.M et al, Stress Analysis of Lap Joints Involving natural
fiber reinforced interface layers, Composites: Part B 36, 2005.
[2]Kevin A. Brown, Richard Brooks, and Nicholas A. Warrior, (2004)
Characterizing the Strain Rate Sensitivity of the Tensile Mechanical
Properties of a Thermoplastic Composite, Polymer Matrix
composites: Research Summary.
[3] Bouzakis.K.D et al, (2008) Determination of Epoxy Resin
Mechanical Properties By Experimental-Computational Procedure in
Tension, Surface and Material Characteristics.

THANK YOU