Design of nautical cleat for small–medium boats using hybrid curaua–glass fiber–reinforced epoxy

Abstract

In this study, a hybrid fiber reinforced polymer composite comprising of glass fiber and natural curaua fiber (Ananas augustifolius) was first designed for the production of a nautical hardware known as nautical cleat (NC). Curaua fibers were assembled in one direction to achieve approximately similar to a glass commercial roving. Then, the fibers were modeled as gross filaments composed of rectangular envelopes with corresponding filaments inside. The filaments were converted into a block with the fibers to polymers ratio as such that would be used in production. Both fiber typologies followed the same procedures. After the plies filled the mold and the polymer NC model was assembled with fibers, the fiber volume was then subtracted from the polymer block, and then, reassembled to refill the fibers in the identical voids generated by the procedure. The file was then exported to the finite element analysis (FEA) tool to verify its mechanical behavior concerning an oblique force, corresponding to the impact energy caused by the cable stretching on the NC. Then, the final model was simulated to compare the FEA results with theoretical models from literature. Based on the failure analysis, the results showed that the Classical theory of laminates was the most restrictive model, followed by the Hashin model. On the other hand, Tasi-Wu model was found to be the least conservative. The FEA results obtained values between the Hashin and Tsai-Wu theories. Therefore, it was possible to evaluate the application of natural fibers with different environmental conditions and in comparison, to synthetic and mineral fiber composites through theory and simulated results. Finally, it was possible to verify the global mechanical behavior of hybrid composites with a combination of natural fibers with glass or other industrial equivalents. Further works could be focused in evaluating the localized ply-interface behavior to understand the localized failure mechanism.