Investigation of mechanical properties, viscoelastic properties and free vibration analysis of natural fibre reinforced composite materials

This study aims to assess the mechanical properties and damping characteristics of polyester composites reinforced with flax and kenaf fibers, incorporating 5 wt.% each of rice husk and wood dust. The research will employ mechanical testing, dynamic mechanical analysis across various temperatures and frequencies, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Experiments will measure tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, hardness, natural frequency, and damping coefficient (tan δ). SEM imaging will examine the fractured surfaces of tensile samples. Composites will be fabricated using a manual layup technique, combining mat fiber with 5 wt.% each of rice husk and wood dust. Initial findings suggest that fiber incorporation decreases damping curves (tan δ), while the addition of rice husk and wood dust positively correlates with the composite's natural frequency and damping factor. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.