Experimental Analysis of Kenaf Filament Wound Tubes under Axial Compression Load

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the strength of kenaf filament wound tubes under axial compression load. Kenaf is natural reinforcement fibre in which need to explore its capability to replace and compare with other common commercial reinforcement materials. Axial compression test was performed as early indication to identify the performance of kenaf filament wound composite tubes. Comparisons have been done towards basalt, e-glass and carbon tubes using polyester as a resin. Axial compression test of kenaf/polyester and kenaf/epoxy tubes were conducted with different winding angles involved which are 450, 550, 650 and 750. The result shows the 450 kenaf/epoxy tubes generated the higher compressive strength followed by other winding angle in the ascending order. The layer strength identification have been conducted in 550 winding angle sample in which indicate the increment layer of winding is uniform between one, two and three layers in ascending orders. Comparison between the different reinforcement materials show carbon tubes produced the higher compressive strength followed by e-glass, basalt and kenaf. Kenaf/epoxy recorded 38.7% lower the e-glass tubes. Kenaf/epoxy tubes were observed to identify the improvement from kenaf/polyester tubes and results shows at least 22% increment have been generated. It can be concluded that kenaf presence as a reinforcement material was successfully combine as composite system under axial compressive load as well as lead to the promising indication to be introduced in low load bearing application.