Application of Micromechanical Modelling for the Evaluation of Elastic Moduli of Hybrid Woven Jute–Ramie Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites

Abstract

Woven laminated composite has gained researchers’ and industry’s interest over time due to its impressive mechanical performance compared to unidirectional composites. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties of the woven laminated composite are hard to predict. There are many micromechanical models based on unidirectional composite but limited to the woven laminated composite. The current research work was conducted to evaluate elastic moduli of hybrid jute–ramie woven reinforced unsaturated polyester composites using micromechanical effectiveness unidirectional models, such as ROM, IROM, Halpin–Tsai, and Hirsch, which are based on stiffness. The hybrid jute–ramie laminated composite was fabricated with different layering sizes, and the stacking sequence was completed via hand lay-up with the compression machine. Tensile modulus values for hybrid composites are between those for single jute and single ramie. Obtained p-values less than 0.05 prove the relationship between layering size and tensile modulus. This study showed that several micromechanical models, such as Halpin–Tsai’s predicted value of homogenized mechanical properties, were in good agreement with the experimental result. In the case of the hybrid composite, the micromechanical model deviates from the experimental result. Several modifications are required to improve the current existing model. A correlation function was calculated based on the differences between the elastic modulus values determined experimentally and those derived from each micromechanical model calculation.