Fracture toughness of woven kenaf fibre reinforced composites

This paper presents the role of fibre orientations on the woven-type kenaf fibre reinforced composites. According to literature survey, lack of information regarding to the fracture toughness of woven kenaf fibre reinforced composites. Fracture toughness tests were performed using ASTM D5045. Four fibre orientations were used such as 0/15/0/-15/0, 0/30/0/-30/0, 0/45/0/-45/0 and 0/90/0/-90/0 and on the other hand virgin polyester and unidirectional fibre reinforced composites were also used for comparisons. Based on the experimental works, woven-typed composites produced lower fracture toughness compared with the unidirectional fiber composite. Fracture toughness obtained from different fibre orientations composites are almost identical however 0/30/0/-30/0 and 0/90/0/-90/0 produced higher toughness relative with others. Fracture mechanisms revealed that as expected the fibres aligned along the stress direction capable to sustain better mechanical deformation and therefore producing higher fracture toughness. (paper)