Cyclic deformation behaviours of some non-wood natural fibre-reinforced composites

A series of experimental studies on the mechanical properties of non-wood natural fibre-reinforced composites has been carried out using Abaca, banana and rice hull fibres embedded randomly in various thermoset resin matrice. The strain softening characteristics of these composites were evaluated under quasi-static load cycles with combined modes of tension and compression using a servohydraulic universal tester. The aim of these studies is to observe the ability of different natural-fibre composites to arrest fracture and delay crack growth. This progressive damage process is manifested by the strain softening characteristics and observed under programmed strain-controlled load cycles which can be accurately illustrated by monitoring the values of elastic modulus under different strains.