Micromechanical Modelling and Evaluation of Pineapple Leaves Fibre (PALF) Composites Through Representative Volume Element Method

Abstract

Owing to the present scenario of industries, a massive demand for sustainable green materials made of natural fibre is provoking. Besides, the cost involved in experimental trails could be reduced. Perhaps, experimental never reflects the ideal conditions of any materials system due to their natural heterogeneity. In the present study, an attempt is made to develop a representative volume element (RVE)-based micromechanical model to evaluate mechanical properties of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) composites numerically before being fabricated really. A 3D model of RVE is prepared using finite element analysis software ANSYS®15 in the unit cell. To model the perfect fibre–matrix bonding, RVE modelled with both the square and hexagonal array of packaging. Results on longitudinal modulus, transverse modulus, in-plane Poisson’s ratio and shear modulus of PALF composites as a function of varying fibre loading (10–50 wt% in steps of 10) have been done. Present numerical prediction (RVE) for PALF composites is compared with different analytical models like parallel and series model, Hirsah’s model and Halpin–Tsai model and concluded with proper agreements.