Abstract:
Polymer Composites are now being used in engineering industries for light weight and low cost, at the same time as an inevitable behavior of material which provides sufficient stiffness under various load conditions. But almost many of the research work carried out in the past are with the synthetic fibers like Glass, Kevlar and carbon. In this study, an Ethiopian bamboo fibre has been introduced in the polyester matrix and the mechanical property especially tensile strength of Bamboo-polyester composite has been investigated. Here, to analyze, it has been decided to execute the testing under Experimental Approach. In an analytical approach, an evaluation of tensile through Classical lamination theory has been adopted and then it has been evaluated through simulation models using the software ANSYS. Although the predicted values have been evaluated through simulation, it has been decided to evaluate those values again experimentally. The main factors which affect the tensile strength of Bamboo-Polyester composite has been examined through variation in fiber content, variation in fiber Orientation and a mixture of treated and untreated bamboo fibred lamina. In the experimental approach, all the samples are prepared and tested according to the standards specified by ASTM/D3039. Testing have been done using Electro-hydraulic Universal Testing Machine. In an analytical approach, using classical lamination theory (ABD Matrix Method), the tensile strength of various models has been evaluated and it has been validated through simulation. For simulation, with the standards mentioned above, an orthotropic model of laminates has been generated and it has been analyzed using the analysis software ANSYS. The output data arrived through Simulation and Experimental Testing are Compared and evaluated for the error and the error is 3.5% on an average which is within the permissible level (NAFEMS Standard). From all the various model analysis, it is found that [00/00/00/00] arrangement of BFRP composite shows a good result in tensile strength (i.e. an average of 107MPa) comparing to all the others. On the other hand by varying concentration of fibre content a 33-67% of BFRP shows a good result (i.e. an average of 67.33MPa). In addition to this, the effects of treatment of NaOH solution over composites have also been examined. In that, 10% of NaOH solution decreases the tensile strength of BFRP for the same amount of fibre to polyester resin in both [00/00/00/00] and 33-67% of BFRP composite.