Effect of stacking layouts and water absorption on impact resistance of natural fabrics reinforced hybrid composites

Natural fiber-reinforced composites, whose use is increasing daily in the building, automotive, and aerospace industries, are subjected to low-velocity impact loads in indoor applications. In most impact-exposed applications, increasing impact resistance through the hybrid use of different natural fibers is a frequently used solution. In this study, the impact resistance of hybrid composites reinforced with flax and jute fabrics was investigated in dry and water-absorbed conditions. The stacking layouts, the number of jute and flax fabric layers, and the type of fabric on the impact surface have been observed to affect the impact resistance of dry composites. Increasing the number of flax fabric layers increased water absorption. Although water absorption reduces the impact resistance of composites, it was also observed that impact damage is reduced at 20 J impact energy in some stacking layouts. The study results show that natural fiber-reinforced hybrid composites, produced with appropriate reinforcement elements and stacking layouts to enhance impact resistance, have the potential to increase their applicability in automotive and building sectors, where lightness and cost are key considerations.