| dc.description.abstract | This research presents a comparative study on the mechanical properties of bagasse fiber
and glass fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composites, with a focus on the effect of fiber
orientation on material performance. Bagasse fiber, an agricultural waste from sugarcane,
is used as a sustainable natural reinforcement in combination with glass fiber to improve
mechanical strength. Hybrid composite laminates were fabricated using bagasse fibers
oriented at 45°, 60°, and 90° within an epoxy resin matrix, along with glass fiber layers.
Mechanical characterization was carried out through hardness and impact tests to evaluate
the influence of fiber orientation on the composite behavior.
The experimental results reveal a strong relationship between fiber orientation and
mechanical performance. The highest average bending load is at 900, indicating the
maximum bending strength occurs at this angle. The 45° bagasse fiber orientation
demonstrated the highest impact strength due to improved energy absorption and load
transfer capability under dynamic conditions. In contrast, the 45° orientation exhibited
highest hardness, indicating superior resistance to surface indentation and localized
deformation. The 45° orientation showed highest and balanced mechanical properties but
did not outperform the other configurations. This study emphasizes that proper selection
of fiber orientation plays a crucial role in optimizing the mechanical performance of
bagasse–glass epoxy hybrid composites. The findings support the potential application of
these eco-friendly composites in lightweight structural, automotive, and engineering
components. | en_US |
