Energy Absorption Capacity in Natural Fiber Reinforcement Composites Structures
The study of natural fiber reinforcement composite structures has focused the attention of the automobile industry due to the new regulation in relation to the recyclability and the reusability of the materials preserving and/or improving the mechanical characteristics. The influence of different pa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/11/3/418 |
| _version_ | 1811226109750018048 |
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| author | Elías López-Alba Sebastian Schmeer Francisco Díaz |
| author_facet | Elías López-Alba Sebastian Schmeer Francisco Díaz |
| author_sort | Elías López-Alba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study of natural fiber reinforcement composite structures has focused the attention of the automobile industry due to the new regulation in relation to the recyclability and the reusability of the materials preserving and/or improving the mechanical characteristics. The influence of different parameters on the material behavior of natural fiber reinforced plastic structures has been investigated, showing the potential for transport application in energy absorbing structures. Two different woven fabrics (twill and hopsack) made of flax fibers as well as a non-woven mat made of a mixture of hemp and kenaf fibers were employed as reinforcing materials. These reinforcing textiles were impregnated with both HD-PE (high-density polyethylen) and PLA (polylactic acid) matrix, using a continuous compression molding press. The impregnated semi-finished laminates (so-called organic sheets) were thermoformed in a second step to half-tubes that were assembled through vibration-welding process to cylindric crash absorbers. The specimens were loaded by compression to determine the specific energy absorption capacity. Quasi-static test results were compared to dynamic test data obtained on a catapult arrangement. The differences on the specific energies absorption (SEA) as a function of different parameters, such as the wall thickness, the weave material type, the reinforced textiles, and the matrix used, depending on the velocity rate application were quantified. In the case of quasi-static analysis it is observed a 20% increment in the SEA value when wove Hopsack fabric reinforcement is employed. No velocity rate influence from the material was observed on the SEA evaluation at higher speeds used to perform the experiments. The influence of the weave configuration (Hopsack) seems to be more stable against buckling effects at low loading rates with 10% higher SEA values. An increase of SEA level of up to 72% for PLA matrix was observed when compared with HD-PE matrix. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:18:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ebcad06f765e45b88cee9d4e45c4bac7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:18:46Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-ebcad06f765e45b88cee9d4e45c4bac72022-12-22T03:38:44ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442018-03-0111341810.3390/ma11030418ma11030418Energy Absorption Capacity in Natural Fiber Reinforcement Composites StructuresElías López-Alba0Sebastian Schmeer1Francisco Díaz2Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Minera, Campus las Lagunillas, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, SpainInstitute for Composite Materials (IVW), Kaiserslautern University of Technology, 67663 Kaiserslautern, GermanyDepartamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Minera, Campus las Lagunillas, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, SpainThe study of natural fiber reinforcement composite structures has focused the attention of the automobile industry due to the new regulation in relation to the recyclability and the reusability of the materials preserving and/or improving the mechanical characteristics. The influence of different parameters on the material behavior of natural fiber reinforced plastic structures has been investigated, showing the potential for transport application in energy absorbing structures. Two different woven fabrics (twill and hopsack) made of flax fibers as well as a non-woven mat made of a mixture of hemp and kenaf fibers were employed as reinforcing materials. These reinforcing textiles were impregnated with both HD-PE (high-density polyethylen) and PLA (polylactic acid) matrix, using a continuous compression molding press. The impregnated semi-finished laminates (so-called organic sheets) were thermoformed in a second step to half-tubes that were assembled through vibration-welding process to cylindric crash absorbers. The specimens were loaded by compression to determine the specific energy absorption capacity. Quasi-static test results were compared to dynamic test data obtained on a catapult arrangement. The differences on the specific energies absorption (SEA) as a function of different parameters, such as the wall thickness, the weave material type, the reinforced textiles, and the matrix used, depending on the velocity rate application were quantified. In the case of quasi-static analysis it is observed a 20% increment in the SEA value when wove Hopsack fabric reinforcement is employed. No velocity rate influence from the material was observed on the SEA evaluation at higher speeds used to perform the experiments. The influence of the weave configuration (Hopsack) seems to be more stable against buckling effects at low loading rates with 10% higher SEA values. An increase of SEA level of up to 72% for PLA matrix was observed when compared with HD-PE matrix.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/11/3/418crash absorptionstructural materialimpact behaviornatural fiberspecific energy absorption |
| spellingShingle | Elías López-Alba Sebastian Schmeer Francisco Díaz Energy Absorption Capacity in Natural Fiber Reinforcement Composites Structures Materials crash absorption structural material impact behavior natural fiber specific energy absorption |
| title | Energy Absorption Capacity in Natural Fiber Reinforcement Composites Structures |
| title_full | Energy Absorption Capacity in Natural Fiber Reinforcement Composites Structures |
| title_fullStr | Energy Absorption Capacity in Natural Fiber Reinforcement Composites Structures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Energy Absorption Capacity in Natural Fiber Reinforcement Composites Structures |
| title_short | Energy Absorption Capacity in Natural Fiber Reinforcement Composites Structures |
| title_sort | energy absorption capacity in natural fiber reinforcement composites structures |
| topic | crash absorption structural material impact behavior natural fiber specific energy absorption |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/11/3/418 |
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