Papers by Author: Iman M. Taha

Abstract: This paper gives a wide view over recent research in dynamic characteristics and vibration damping properties of fiber-reinforced, polymer-matrix composites, with emphasis on parameters governing damping, such as fiber volume fraction, fiber orientation, exciting frequency, aspect ratio and fiber-matrix interface, as well as stacking sequence for laminated composites. Both experimental and analytical models are discussed and parameters used to measure the amount of vibration damping are covered. Natural-fiber based composites are handled in detail in the last section of this paper.

Abstract: The application of natural fibres as polymer reinforcement is of extreme interest, especially in combination with biodegradable polymers. Such “green” composite represent a step forward to eco-design and environmentally friendly applications. The use of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) on the basis of renewable resources in addition to the biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on petrochemical basis is compared in this study with the application of polypropylene (PP) as a surrounding matrix for sisal fibres. According to the law of similarities, the chemically similar structure of natural fibres and PVA and PLA provides stronger fibre-matrix bonding characteristics compared to PP. This was experimentally validated applying single-fibre pull-out tests, where the effect of improved bonding is further investigated in terms of tensile and impact composite behaviour. SEM investigation was further applied to describe failure modes of natural fibre composites.