EFFECT OF NATURAL FIBERS ON FLEXURAL PERFORMANCE OF HONEYCOMB SANDWICH

Abstract

Honeycomb is successful in demonstrating excellent characteristics such as good modulus with lightweight, acoustic insulation and energy absorption. Furthermore, a honeycomb sandwich with a composite skin produces a higher strength improvement in flexural performance. However, exploring an effective, cost-reducing and environment-friendly was lacking information found that focuses on honeycomb sandwiches. This paper presents the characteristics of natural fiber to predict the flexural rupture during the reinforcement of the aluminum honeycomb. The natural fiber of coconut, oil palm, and sugarcane composite skin coupled with a honeycomb sandwich was investigated. The fiber content varied in the range of 0, 2, 4, and 8 wt% compared to the resin matrix. The composite skin dimension was shaped quadrilaterally with 76 × 221 × 1.5 mm based on the three-point bending standard of ASTM C-393 (ASTM Standard C393). The fiber reinforcement success to increase flexural performance and sudden rupture resistance by making elongation the strain. The fiber content helps in stiffness performance and at the same time avoids material from preliminary failure. The coconut fiber dominated in higher stress reading for every level of filler content, which proposes a 100% increase from the plain skin of the honeycomb sandwich.