Bamboo among other plants has unique properties and massive variety. The properties of bamboo species vary between species and along their culms. The aim of this study was to investigate the ...characteristics of four bamboo species: Dendrocalamus pendulus (DP), Dendrocalamus asper (DA), Gigantochloa levis (GL), and Gigantochloa scortechinii (GS), and their three portions (bottom (B), middle (M), and top (T)). The number of fibre strands in vascular bundles and the single fibres extracted from every portion was studied. The distribution of fibres varied along the bamboo culms and between species. The DP species showed the highest water content and water absorption and the lowest mechanical properties. The DA species exhibited the best mechanical and physical properties. Moreover, the bottom portion of every species indicated the highest aspect ratio and tensile properties. The results indicated that before the application of bamboo culms in composite materials, the bamboo species should be characterized so that it can be utilised effectively as a renewable reinforcement in composites.
The present study aims to develop a novel hybrid composite by incorporating clamshell as a secondary reinforcing filler into a bamboo-epoxy composite. The primary objective of this hybridization is ...to optimize the synergistic benefits of each component, harnessing the strength of bamboo fibres, the durability of epoxy, and the cost-effective repurposing of the waste clamshell. Compression moulding was employed to develop composites with varying filler content (0- 9 wt%). The effect of filler on the physical and mechanical properties of bamboo-epoxy composites was evaluated by conducting tests as per ASTM standards. Experimental results show that the addition of clamshell filler significantly improved composites' properties, but there was a limitation to the addition. Hardness, tensile, and flexural properties were increased, whereas impact strength was reduced. Composites with 6 wt% clamshell exhibited optimum properties, enhancing tensile strength by 20.5% and flexural strength by 24.4 % compared to composites without filler. SEM analysis of fractured tensile and bending specimens revealed an enhanced fibre-matrix bonding with the inclusion of filler and supported the experimental results obtained. The outcome of this study contributes to sustainable development by using natural resources like bamboo fibre and repurposing seashell waste to create cost-effective composite material with enhanced properties.
The paper presents the experimental and numerical investigations of the tensile properties of bamboo-glass fibres hybrid reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. The stacking configuration was ...GGBBBGG and GBGBGBG, with G and B, respectively denoted BFRP and GFRP. The hybrid composites were manufactured using a resin infusion technique. It was found that the tensile strength of the GGBBBGG was higher than that of GBGBGBG, but the elastic modulus seemed not significantly different. Hence, the glass fibres positioned at the outer layer (as skin of a sandwich composite) gave the better tensile properties than that of the alternating configuration. Numerical work utilising an extended finite element method (XFEM) had been undertaken, and a reasonable agreement on the failure load was found between the numerical and experimental results. However, the numerical load-displacement curves were underpredicted, which might be due to the load train of the testing equipment and also, the model did not include delamination within the layers.
This study presents a mathematical modelling to investigate the wave propagation behaviour in laminated natural fibre-reinforced composite plates integrated with surface bonded piezoelectric ...materials. To model wave dynamics, the constitutive relations, and governing equations of wave motion are derived based on different plate theories and Maxwell's electricity equation due to the surface bonded piezoelectric materials with the closed-circuit electrical boundary condition and transverse poling direction. The influence of natural fibres, as the reinforcing material of the host laminated composite plate, on wave propagation is studied and compared with the effects of synthetic fibres (i.e., carbon, Kevlar, and E-glass). The effects of other factors such as fibre volume fraction, laminate stacking sequence, and the presence of piezoelectric materials on wave dynamics are also investigated. The results of the wave propagation analysis reveal that the impact of different parameters on wave dynamics depends on the range of wavenumbers and wave mode numbers considered. It is found that some parameters may exhibit a noticeable influence on wave velocities, while others may have a negligible effect. The effect of piezoelectric materials on wave velocities in composite plates reinforced with natural fibres e.g., bamboo fibres, may differ from that observed in synthetic fibre-reinforced composite plates.
•Wave dynamics of smart laminated natural fibre-reinforced composite plates is studied.•An efficient analytical approach is developed to analyse structural dynamics of natural fibre-reinforced composites.•Effects of natural reinforcing fibres on wave propagation characteristics of smart composites are investigated and discussed.
Date palm fibre is considered as an agricultural waste suitable as reinforcement for polymeric composites has received interest as an interior component in the automotive industry. The aim of this ...work to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of date palm fibre (leaf stalk, tree trunk, fruit stalk and leaf sheath) reinforced epoxy composites and date palm/bamboo hybrid composites suitable for non-structural and semi-structural applications. The different composites were fabricated using a hand lay-up technique in combination with compression moulding method. Date palm fibre/bamboo hybrid composite, and pure composites were characterized by various mechanical testing such as tensile, flexural and low-velocity impact testing. Exposure to liquid water and environmental conditions affect the durability of biobased composites. The water absorption behaviour and its effects on the thickness swelling, changes in density and physical performance of different composites were further investigated. The experimental results of the date palm fibre/bamboo hybrid composite exhibited the highest mechanical properties compared to date palm fibre composite without hybridisation. The tensile strength, flexural strength and impact toughness values for the date palm/bamboo hybrid composite were recorded at 39.16 MPa, 61.10 MPa and 12.70 J/m, respectively. Interestingly, the physical test of thickness swelling and water absorption results has indicated that date palm fibre/bamboo hybrid composite displayed 27.68% and 15.39% less when compared with single date palm fibre composite. Therefore, the results have discovered that the date palm fibre/bamboo hybrid composite has the prospective to be applied as a non-structural and semi-structural components.
In addition to colour, one of the most important qualities of a snack-type product is its crunchy texture. A freeze-dried fruit snack is characterised by its low water content, which creates the ...problem of a loss of crunchiness related to its low glass transition temperature (Tg). In this sense, a common technique with which to increase the Tg of these types of products is to add different biopolymers. However, these compounds can, at the same time, affect the colour and texture of the product. In this study, different biopolymers have been tested in order to discover their similarities or differences in terms of hygroscopicity, antiplasticising character, colour and impact on the mechanical properties of a freeze-dried orange snack formulated from their different mixtures. Gum Arabic, maltodextrin, starch modified with octenylsuccinic anhydride, pea fibre, bamboo fibre and native corn starch have been selected as biopolymers. The impact of any of them on the studied properties can be confirmed, without any of them being more or less effective than the others.
•Colour and texture of the freeze-dried fruit snacks are affected by the surroundings.•Biopolymers increase the glass transition temperature and reduce hygroscopicity.•The impact of any of the studied biopolymers is of the same order.
It is increasingly important to explore means of reducing deforestation in our environment by sourcing alternatives for timber in the forest. Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) is known for its strength and ...flexibility, which makes it a popular material for construction, furniture, and other uses that are still being explored. This paper evaluated the use of bamboo for the design of ceiling boards based on the physical and mechanical properties of bamboo. We explored the use of bamboo powder, bamboo fibre, and bamboo sticks that are usually discarded during construction activities, using urea-formaldehyde as a binding agent. The bamboo ceiling boards were tested for their physical (water absorption, thickness swelling, and density) and mechanical (modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity) properties. Water absorption ranged from 41.9% to 86.4% after 2 h immersion in water and from 41.9% to 97.6% after 24hrs immersion. The modulus of rupture was 78.915 N/mm2 and the highest density was 0.424 g/cm3. Given these results, bamboo is a suitable material for the production of ceiling boards.
•Utilization of bamboo can be used as a balance between demand and supply in the production of composite particle boards.•Ceiling boards are produced from bamboo powder, bamboo fibre, and bamboo sticks as reinforcement.•Bamboo boards can be used considering its good qualities such as flexibility, good cooling effect and termite resistance.
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