Towards green engineering designs: Natural fibre-based hybrid composites for structural applications

Project Aim & Objective:
The aim is to understand and develop novel hybrid fibre-reinforced 2D woven composite laminates to tailor their mechanical properties. The objective of this project is twofold: (a) explore natural fibres along with synthetic fibres to produce hybrid composites using textile preforms, and (b) understand and optimise the mechanical properties of such hybrid composites via multiscale computational models and experimental mechanics.
Research Vision and Approach:
The vision is to develop novel hybrid composite polymer materials by exploring naturally available fibres together with synthetic fibres, and to provide new design opportunities for lightweight structural applications. Although synthetic composite materials (e.g. carbon/epoxy in a laminate form) offer several advantages over metals and metal alloys (e.g. very high specific strength and stiffness), there is a growing research attention in recent years for natural fibre based composites considering into account the aspects of sustainability and environmentally friendly manufacturing. To fully explore natural fibre based composites, it is important to identify their potential and, at the same time, key challenges in using them as structural materials. Understanding the mechanical behaviour of and failure mechanisms in composite structures when exposed to service loading conditions is vital. Only through this fundamental understanding it is possible to develop new material systems as well as robust failure theories that can allow us to design reliable composite structures. The work proposed in this project is a step forward in this direction. The emphasis is on exploring the combined effect of natural and synthetic fibres within a polymer matrix and on optimizing such a hybrid effect on their mechanical properties and failure mechanisms; and the aim is to develop multiscale computational models that can offer a better insight into the mechanical behaviour and failure mechanisms, which would then allow us to move towards developing optimum material systems for demanding service conditions.
Research Context:
The proposed work brings together two broad areas: 'composite manufacturing' and 'modelling and simulation'. Although this proposed work is at a low technological readiness level, it will enrich our ongoing research activities within the department and can also be a fertile topic for industrial engagement and future research activities (e.g. aligns with EPSRC - manufacturing and materials themes, Innovate UK - advanced materials and green transport themes).
It is important to note that advanced composites are widely being used in many applications, and there is a growing interest in exploring cost-effective and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and raw materials. On the other hand, the current structural design rules for advanced composites are not mature nor materials themselves are fully tailored, which is a major challenge to fully explore the potential of composite materials in structural applications. Novel material systems with enhanced damage tolerance (i.e. stable failure mechanisms) and robust design approaches are now being called for which depend upon advanced manufacturing processes and computational modelling techniques. In this regard, the proposed work on natural fibre based hybrid composites addresses some of these challenges and thus has the potential to attract industrial collaborations.