Experimental Investigation on Mechanical Properties of Glass and Jute Reinforced Composite

Abstract

Nowadays composite materials are mostly preferred due to good mechanical properties and light weight nature than conventional materials. In composite material matrix and reinforcement play important role; as load is taken by matrix and transmitted to the reinforcement. Reinforcement can be either synthetic fiber or natural fiber. Manufacturing of synthetic fibers is harmful from environment point of view; hence recent research work is focused on use of natural fiber as reinforcement. In this research work Jute natural fiber is taken into account for reinforcement along with Synthetic glass fiber. Epoxy resin is used. Three types of composites are prepared X-321, X-322 and X-323. X-321 has only glass reinforcement which is 68 percent with 12 glass layers. X-322 has glass reinforcement (43 percentages) and jute reinforcement (7 percentages) with G/G/J/G/G layers arrangement. Two glass layers followed by one jute layer and two glass layers. While X- 323 has glass reinforcement (31 percentages) and jute reinforcement (14 percentages) with G/J/G/J/G layers arrangement. Mechanical properties of prepared composites are tested according to ASTM standards. It is observed that with decrease in total reinforcement mechanical properties are also decreasing. Compressive strength of X-321 and X-322 is almost same. Short beam shear strength of X-322 and X-323 is same.