Stochastic analysis of natural fiber-reinforced composites

Abstract

The current work talks about a stochastic approach to study the static response characteristics of natural fiber reinforced composites with random material and geometric properties. Stochasticity in macro scale is due to randomness in macro mechanical properties of bio composite which is inevitable owing to many uncontrollable parameters in manufacturing and fabrication processes of bio composites. Analysis is also done by taking ply orientation angles (meso scale) and other geometric properties like aspect ratio, thickness ratio as discrete random variables. Bio composite is made of sisal fiber(Natural fiber) and matrix based on Epoxidized Soybean-Oil(ESO). Macro-mechanical analysis of composite laminates is done using Finite element analysis and first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) is used for displacement formulation. Results are shown for different boundary conditions along with different stacking sequences and thickness ratios. Uncertainty quantification is done using Monte Carlo simulation technique by considering the mean and the standard deviation of input material properties of the bio composite to be known. Sensitivity analysis is done to show how each stochastic input parameter (Elastic modulii) influence thecomposite plate response characteristics. The validation of the modelis checked using the existing results which are in agreement with the results obtained. Results indicate that stochasticity in material or geometric properties of bio composite cannot be ignored. It is concluded that considering stochasticity of input parameters in design and analysis of structures is crucial to maintain structural integrity, safety and reliability.