Trans Indian Inst Met (2021) 74(1):179–193
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-020-02111-7
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Influence of Nanoparticles on Thermal, Mechanical and 3D
Analysis of Hybrid Bamboo/Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polymer
Composites
D. Bino Prince Raja1 • S. C. Vettivel2 • Antony Samuel Prabhu3
Received: 17 July 2020 / Accepted: 16 October 2020 / Published online: 2 December 2020
 The Indian Institute of Metals - IIM 2020
Abstract Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and deriva-
tive thermogravimetry (DTG) are used to investigate the
thermal degradation and thermal stability of the prepared
bamboo/glass hybrid composites in a nitrogen atmosphere.
The analysis is carried out in the temperature range of 0 C
to 800 C at a heating rate of 20 C min-1 with the
nitrogen gas flow of 55 ml min-1. The hybrid glass/bam-
boo with coconut shell powder in micron and nano-size
confirms a mass loss of 32.50% and 33.50%. Tensile and
fatigue results confirm that the bamboo/glass hybrid com-
posite added with coconut shell powder in micro- and
nano-size exhibits good fatigue property and restrict crack
initiation and crack propagation under cyclic loading.
Fatigue analysis reveals that at 800 cycles, the hybrid
bamboo/glass fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) composite
with nanoparticles posses 22.5% higher load compared to
all other combinations. Finally, the fatigue life increases
with decreasing the filler dimension of the hybrid com-
posites. TGA/DTG analysis reveals that hybrid
& D. Bino Prince Raja
binoprince87@sjcit.ac.in; binoaero87@gmail.com
S. C. Vettivel
scvettivel@ccet.ac.in
Antony Samuel Prabhu
antosam33@gmail.com
1
Department of Aeronautical Engineering, S.J.C Institute of
Technology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 analytical techniques [6]. The amount of mass present in
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chandigarh College
of Engineering & Technology (Degree Wing), Sector-26,
Chandigarh 160019, India
3
Department of Aeronautical Engineering, MVJ College of
Engineering, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560024, India
bamboo/glass FRP composite with nanoparticles has
improved the thermal stability of the composites.
Keywords TGA analysis
Fatigue analysis
Hybrid FRP

Micro- and nanoparticles
1 Introduction
Thermogravimetric Analysis is an important technique,
which is used to determine the mass of the sample as a
function of temperature change and time. [1]. Recently,
TGA is mainly used to characterize the materials like
thermoplastic and thermosetting polymer matrix, and also
determines the influence of hybrid fibre-reinforced polymer
matrix [2]. The polymer materials like thermoplastic and
thermosetting polymer matrix are essential to examine the
characteristic and the influence of addition of natural fibres
into the polymers, which can be determined by effective
method known as thermal evaluation [3]. The thermal
stability and decomposition rate of material can be
obtained from TGA [4].
The TGA also can analyse the materials which exhibit
mass gain or mass loss due to oxidation resistance or
decomposition. This is particularly useful for the study of
polymeric materials like thermosets, thermoplastics, films
and elastomers [5].
Usually, the thermal property of natural fibres which is
used as a reinforcement or filler material in composites is
studied by using TGA. TGA is one of the primarily used
polymeric materials is monitored as a function of time or
temperature in a controlled environment [7, 8]. In few
situations, there will be no change in mass over time or
change in temperature over time [9]. The temperature
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ranges at which the material property changes to its state
from hard or rigid state to a more pliable or rubbery or state
is known as glass transition temperature (Tg) [10]. The
thermal performance of piassava, sponge gourd, curaua and
caroa fibres by means of Thermogravimetry (TG) and
Differential Thermogravimetry (DTG) curves utilize a few
reheating charges as much as 40 C/min in nitrogen. The
conventional DTG curves at 10 C/min are replicated. The
entire fibres investigated, confirm a preliminary DTG peak
round 50 C, generally as a result of water discharge [11].
The additional points are mentioned in the insert with
consistent standards for the activation energy. Within the
instance of the curaua fibre, 365 C is identified in the
literature as corresponding to the thermal decomposition of
cellulose [28]. Nonetheless, a minor shoulder height seems
to exist a round 280 C. The researchers have warranted
the presence of just one DTG peak with regard to a more
homogeneous thermal degradation of the curaua fibres
[12].
TGA is also used to deliver valuable information which
can be useful to select materials for some heat shield
application, predict product performance and improve
quality. The method is especially useful for the composi-
tional analysis of thermal stabilities, oxidative stabilities,
decomposition kinetics and estimation of product’s lifetime
[13].
Thermal technique is one in which samples are either
polymer composites or any polymer that undergoes dis-
tortion with changes in temperature, in a controlled atmo-
sphere. TA can be used as an individual or cooperated with
other commercially available TA techniques such as TGA,
says a research study. The research study reveals that for
spotting the Tg of polymers, a highly cross-linked materials
like polymer composites has been used for highly sensitive
and more accurate results [14]. Moreover, the attention for
new materials derivable from renewable sources as well as
for valorization of recycle and low cost, and waste or hard-
to-dispose natural products such as wool got from the stem
of flax ligno-cellulosic fibres, hemp, jute, bamboo, etc. is
continuously increasing. Many scientific research projects
have focused on eco-composites (composite material based
on fibres embedded in biodegradable polymer matrices or
natural composites) [15], which is having more benefits
over conventionally available composites. In specific, the
eco-composite materials consisting of ligno-cellulosic
natural fibres such as bamboo, hemp, jute, flax, etc. are
characterized by low environmental impact, low density,
performance ratio and recyclability [16].
In order to forecast the fatigue life of composite mate-
rials especially polymer matrix composites (PMC), the
researchers have been developed many fatigue models to
study the fatigue life. However, none of these fatigue
models is concerned with the fatigue life of hybrid fibre-
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Trans Indian Inst Met (2021) 74(1):179–193
reinforced polymer composites, and the experimental
results are compared with theoretical values to determine
the fatigue life of hybrid bamboo/glass-reinforced polye-
ster composites [17].
Unlike metals, composite materials are inhomogeneous
(on a gross scale) and anisotropic. They accumulate dam-
age in a general rather than a localized fashion, and failure
does not always occur by the propagation of a single
macroscopic crack. The micro-structural mechanisms of
damage accumulation, including fibre breakage and matrix
cracking, debonding, transverse-ply cracking, and delami-
nation, occur sometimes independently and sometimes
interactively, and the predominance of one or the other
may be strongly affected by both materials variables and
testing conditions [18]. The load such as fatigue, etc., may
affect hybrid fibres and its composites. The wide ranges of
applications are used by the researchers to realize the
importance of fatigue phenomena and even for the struc-
tures [19–21]. Glass fibre-reinforced (GFR) polymer
composites show a poor fatigue tolerance due to their
modulus differences as compared to carbon fibre composite
(CFC). The modulus difference between matrix and fibres
generates localized and discontinuous strains that creel the
fibre–matrix interface and degrade fatigue life. To over-
come the limitations associated with soft matrix materials,
further hybridizing the composite with nano-fillers in the
matrix phase will result in 2 to 5 times increase in the
fatigue life of modified composite [22, 23]. The glass fibre-
reinforced polyester matrix composites with four different
weight fractions of these nanotubes ranging from 0.5, 1.0,
1.5 and 2.0 wt% are fabricated and tested for their thermal
and mechanical properties. The result reveals that samples
containing nanocarbon nanotubes witness higher fatigue
life [23, 24] examined the tensile fatigue behaviour of a
hybrid GFRP (Glass fibre-reinforced polymer) composite
of micron-sized rubber particles and nano-silica particles
[25]. The presence of both nano-silica particles and
micron-sized rubber and in the hybrid composite further
improve the fatigue life of hybrid composites.
The fatigue testing is one of the important behaviours of
the polymer composites to improve the properties of FRP
composite. The fatigue test was performed with a loading
between 55 and 93% of the ultimate tensile specimens. The
ratio of the minimum load to the maximum load was 0.1,
when the maximum applied load was achieved by
increasing a load of 5% of tensile strength after each
104 cyclic loading. The study results revealed that the fa-
tigue performance was slightly poor with the stress ratio
R = - 1. The hybrid composite samples with five different
layer symmetric laminates [0w]5 was subjected to tension–
tension fatigue loading. The results reveal that the fatigue
life can be improved by adding nano- and micro-fillers.
The dominant failure types such as deboning, fibre
Trans Indian Inst Met (2021) 74(1):179–193
breaking and delamination are observed. Hence, the tensile
loading rate increases when the tensile strength increases,
and the maximum strain decreases with open-hole on
composite specimens [24, 26, 27].
In the early 1959s, the manufacturing methods without
any pressing such as hand layup, filament winding, pul-
trusion and vacuum bag moulding were used. But the
compression moulding is a narrow and potentially rapid
process for producing high quality composite parts in a
wide range of volumes. Takagi and Asano [28] studied the
effect of pressing on the tensile, flexural strength and
moduli of the composites. They found an increase in
flexural strength and modulus with increasing pressure.
Compression moulding is an emerging technique to man-
ufacture the polymer matrix composite. The load such as
fatigue and thermal behaviour plays an important role of
hybrid fibres and its composites. The wide ranges of
applications are used by the researchers to realize the
importance of fatigue phenomena and even for the struc-
tures. This paper is proposed to prepare the bamboo/glass-
reinforced polyester hybrid composite from two different
fibre volume ratios and study their thermal stability and
fatigue life of hybrid bamboo/glass-reinforced polyester
composites using compression moulding.
2 Experimental Work
2.1 Preparation of Material
Polyesters resins are the most commonly used thermoset
resin for all commercial composite parts particularly in the
maritime and automotive industries. These resins provide a
balance of good mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical
properties, dimensional stability, ease of handling and low
cost. Resins of this type are unsaturated and represent about
75% of total resin used in the composites in industry.
Polyester resin was used as the matrix material in this
study. Polyester is a polymer held together by ester link-
ages. The supplier of polyester resin and hardener are
Naptha Resins and Chemicals, Bengaluru, India. The
polyester resin was used as the polymer matrix, which was
used with the slow hardener. The polyester and hardener
were mixed with a ratio of 3:1. Its hardener is peroxide; we
have used methyl ethyl ketone peroxide. Methyl ethyl
ketone peroxide is very less sensitive to temperature and
shock. Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and cobalt naph-
thenate were employed as the catalyst and oxidizer,
respectively. Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) is used
as a hardener in manufacture of polyester resins and other
petrochemical plastics. Most importantly, MEKP is used in
fibreglass and plastics industry as a curing agent. MEKP is
used as a room temperature hardening and curing agent for
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fibreglass-reinforced plastics and unsaturated polyester
resin. Cobalt napthanate was mixed with polyester resin
which acted as an oxidizer. The bamboo/glass fibre was
used as the reinforcing constituents to form as the hybrid
composites. Coconut shell powder in micro- (500 lm to
50 lm) and nano (80 nm)-size particles was chosen as the
filler materials as shown in Fig. 1a, b.
Coconut shells are free from defilement of coir sub-
stance and are broken into little pieces and bolstered into a
pulveriser. The powder from the pulverizer is nurtured into
a twister. The shell powder is then stored into a vibrating
sieving machine. The conversion of the coconut shell
micropowder into nanopowder was done with the help of
Titanium ball mill with 10:1 reduction ratio. The particle
size was analysed with the help of particle size analyser
and distributed uniformly with the polyester resin. The
exact size of nanoparticle was confirmed using the particle
size analyser (Malvern, UK, Zen 3690). The size of the
nanoparticle was 80 nm.
2.2 Methods
Wood was used to prepare a moulding box of size
200 9 150 9 10. Various kinds of five plates were
developed with hybrid glass/bamboo, pure bamboo and
hybrid glass/bamboo with nano- and micro-coconut shell
powder-reinforced polyester combinations. Matrix material
was chosen to be polyester resin with small quantity of
cobalt naphthenate and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide were
added as oxidizer and catalyst, respectively.
Compression moulding method was implemented for
developing composite laminate. Hybrid composite plates
were prepared by hydraulic hot press. In order to soften
polymer resin, they were pre-heated up to a temperature of
155 C for a period of 3 to 5 min. To gain the desired
shape of the mould they were compressed at the same
temperature. The composite laminates were initially tested
for pressure of 10 Mpa, 10.5 Mpa, 11 Mpa, 11.5 Mpa, 12
Mpa, 12.5 Mpa, 13 Mpa, 13.5 Mpa and up to 21 Mpa.
Finally, using Trial and error method, we optimized the
process, and got good quality laminate when the pressure
applied was in between 13.2 MPa to 20.7 MPa. The
composite laminates were allowed to cool under pressure
of 13.82 to 20.7 Mpa for 5 to 10 min after the desired
thickness and volume fraction was obtained. As a final
step, after fabrication of all the laminates, the plates were
removed gently. The fabricated samples are shown in
Table 1.
2.3 Thermal Analysis
TG analysis is used in measuring the rate of change in mass
and amount of mass corresponding to temperature or time
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 Trans Indian Inst Met (2021) 74(1):179–193 183

b Fig. 1 a Coconut shell powder b Particle size analyser image
c representation of steps in sample preparation d fatigue testing
arrangement e fatigue testing samples
in a controlled environment. To investigate the thermal
stabilities and compositional properties of materials, TGA
method has been used. This method can also analyse the
mass gain and mass loss caused by their decomposition,
loss of volatiles or oxidation. This method is specifically
useful in the study of polymeric materials, including ther-
mosets, thermoplastics, elastomers, composites, fibres,
paints and coatings. Thermal changes and the thermal
stability of all five samples (weighing from 10 to 15 mg)
were analysed using DTG and TGA. The TGA and DTG
analyses were performed on a Mettler-Toledo TGA/
SDTA851e device in flowing nitrogen (N2). To avoid
unwanted oxidation, it was carried out in an atmosphere at
a flow rate of 50 ml/min. The temperature range was 25 C
to 900 C at a heating rate of 10 C/min as explained in
[6].
2.4 Analysis of Tensile Properties
The tensile test was conducted to provide the necessary
design information on the strength of these materials for
specifying different materials. The tensile test was con-
ducted by continuously increasing uniaxial tensile force
and the observation was made at the same time for the
elongating specimens. The ultimate tensile strength,
young’s modulus, yield strength and elongation was also
determined.
2.5 Fatigue Analysis
Fatigue testing method was used to determine the fatigue
behaviour under tensile cyclic loading. The test is to
determine the fatigue property to resist crack initiation and
crack propagation under cyclic loading under ASTM E399.
In fatigue test; the loading stress was 40% of the ultimate
tensile stress of the specimens. During the test, samples
were loaded without pre stress = - 1 and strain = 0.01.
The stress ratio was used as 0.1 for tension–tension fatigue
tests with 6 Hz to avoid self-heating of the specimen. It
was also used to measure the fatigue life and its life
characteristic at given stress levels. A specimen sustaining

Table 1 Combination of polyester resin, bamboo fibre and E-glass fibre

S. no Specimens Combinations Volume (%) Weight (gm)

1 Sample 1 Polyester resin 70 1080

(A) Bamboo fibre 30 450
2 Sample 2 Polyester resin 75 1150
(B) E-glass fibre 25 425
3 Sample 3 Polyester resin 70 1100
(C) Bamboo fibre 15 200
E-Glass fibre 15 200
4 Sample 4 Polyester resin 70 1125
(D) Bamboo fibre 10 150
E-Glass fibre 20 300
5 Sample 5 Polyester resin 70 1125
(E) Bamboo fibre 20 300
E-Glass fibre 10 150
6 Sample 6 Polyester resin 70 1125
(F) Bamboo fibre 15 225
E-Glass fibre 12 180
Coconut shell powder in micro-size 3 12
7 Sample 7 Polyester resin 70 1125
(G) Bamboo fibre 15 225
E-Glass fibre 12 180
Coconut shell powder in Nano-size 3 10

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a specified character for number of stress cycle, before
failure of a specified nature occurs is known as fatigue life
(Nf). Historically, where low stress is there, and it is pri-
marily elastic deformation, more than 104 cycles is
required for failure. So most of the attention is focused on
the situation. S–N curve (cycles stress number) also known
as a Wohler curve commonly characterizes the materials
performance in case of high-cycle fatigue situations. The
samples prepared for fatigue tests are shown in Fig. 1d, e
shows the fatigue test arrangement.
3 Results and Discussions
3.1 Effect of Nanoparticles on Thermal Degradation
by TGA and DTG Analysis
Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the TGA and DTA of pure
bamboo, pure glass, hybrid fibre-reinforced polyester
(FRP), added micro- and nano-coconut shell filler fibre-
reinforced polyester composites. TGA and DTG analysis of
pure bamboo is shown in Fig. 2. TGA thermogram gives
the weight loss percentage, while the location of
the DTG peak gives the inflection point. At 92 C, the drop
in mass is noted at first and the next drop happens at
295 C. Subsequently, at 346 C, the third and biggest drop
is noted, where the cellulose of fibre starts to degrade and
to burn [28]. The other drops noted for various fibres for
jute, hemp and Kenaf are at 312 C, 296 C, and 308 C,
respectively [10]. Hence, the less prominent drop is at
Fig. 2 TGA and DTG of Pure
bamboo (30%) FRP Composites
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482 C and 685 C, respectively. This results in oxidative
degradation and lignin degradation of charred residue of
the fibre. A mass of 21.35% is found to be remaining at a
temperature of 820 C at the end of the process.
TGA and DTG analysis of glass (15%), bamboo (15%)
FRP composites are shown in Fig. 3. At 102 C and
305 C temperature are the first drop and the next drop,
respectively. Subsequently, at 365 C, where the cellulose
of fibre starts degrading and burning, the third and biggest
drop is noted [28]. The other drops noted for various fibre
for jute, hemp and Kenaf are at 312 C, 296 C, and
308 C, respectively [10]. The lignin degradation and
oxidative degradation of charred residue of the fibre are the
results found when the temperature drops to 465 C and
665 C. A mass of 29.50% is found to be remaining at a
temperature of 820 C at the end of the process
TGA and DTG analysis of glass (20%), bamboo (10%)
FRP composites are shown in Fig. 4. At 104 C the first
drop in mass is noted and the next drop happens at 315 C.
Subsequently, at 370 C the third and biggest drop is noted,
where the fibre starts to burn and the cellulose degrades
[28]. The other drops noted for various fibres for jute, hemp
and Kenaf are at 312 C, 296 C, and 308 C, respectively
[10]. The lignin degradation and oxidative degradation of
charred residue of the fibre are the results found when the
temperature drops to 470 C and 668 C. A mass of 30.7%
is found to be remaining at a temperature of 820 C at the
end of the process
TGA and DTG analysis of glass (12%), bamboo (15%)
added powder in micro-size (3%) is shown in Fig. 5. At
Trans Indian Inst Met (2021) 74(1):179–193 185

Fig. 3 TGA and DTG of

bamboo (15%) and glass (15%)
FRP hybrid composites

Fig. 4 TGA and DTG of hybrid

bamboo (20%) Glass (10%)
FRP hybrid composites

110 C and 315 C temperatures are the first drop and the
next drop occur respectively. Subsequently, at 360 C,
where the cellulose of fibre starts degrading and burning,
the third and biggest drop is noted [28]. The other drops
noted for various fibre for jute, hemp and Kenaf are
312 C, 296 C and 308 C, respectively [10]. The lignin
degradation and oxidative degradation of charred residue
of the fibre are the results found when the temperature
drops at 465 C and 665 C. A mass of 32.50% is found to
be remaining at a temperature of 820 C at the end of the
process.

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Fig. 5 TGA and DTG of hybrid

bamboo (15%) glass (12%)
coconut shell powder in micro-
size (3%) FRP hybrid
composites

Fig. 6 TGA and DTG of hybrid

bamboo (15%) Glass (12%)
coconut shell powder in nano-
size (3%) FRP hybrid
composites

TGA and DTG analysis of glass (12%), bamboo (15%),
and added coconut shell powder in nano-size (3%) is
shown in Fig. 6. The first drop in mass is noted at 110 C
and the next drop happens at 320 C. Subsequently, at
370 C, where the cellulose of fibre starts degrading and
burning, the third and the biggest drop is noted [28]. The
other drops noted for various fibre for jute, hemp and Kenaf
are at 312 C, 296 C and 308 C, respectively [10]. The
lignin degradation and oxidative degradation of charred
residue of the fibre is the result found when the temperature
drops at 474 C and 685 C. A mass of 33.50% is found to
be remaining at a temperature of 820 C at the end of the
process.

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The DTG and TG curves are recorded with the heating
rate of 10 C/min and is represented in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and
6. Figure 2 shows the TG curves of sample 1. Interestingly,
thermal stability of coconut shell powder is high, and
its residual mass is a little high. Comprehensive evidence
on the degradation process, maximum intensity of thermal
degradation temperatures (DTG) and residual mass is
shown from Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. They show the inves-
tigated materials and decomposition process. For com-
posites with coconut shell powder, the values are higher
than for the sample 1 (Sample 6 & Sample 7). The rate of
degradation gets reduced while introducing the filler
material (coconut shell powder) proved in DTG analysis.
Moreover, to prevent the thermal degradation of materials
due to surface volume ratio and stability, the nano-hybrid
composites with high amount of residual mass can be used
[29].
3.2 Effect of Tensile strength
In this section, tensile test has been carried out to under-
stand the influence of hybrid bamboo/glass fibre-reinforced
with polyester composites with ± 30 orientation. The
tensile properties of the specimens with respect to ± 30
orientation are shown in Table 2.
3.2.1 Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS)
The tensile strength is the value often taken from the results
of a tension test. Now, the ultimate tensile strength is
obtained by the division of maximum load by original
cross-sectional area. The UTS is obtained in the form of
stress–strain curve for ± 30 orientation specimens and the
values for stress–strain are shown in Table 3. And, Fig. 7
shows the true stress–strain curve of hybrid FRP composite
with respect to ± 30 fibre orientation. Stress versus strain
curve reveals that the hybrid FRP composite displayed as E
sample exhibit high breakage point. Figure 8 reveals that
the hybrid FRP composite with nano-sized coconut powder
exhibits high tensile strength of about 51.6 N/mm2, which
is higher compared to other combinations, also highest
Table 2 Tensile properties with respect to ± 30 orientation
S. No Specimens UTS (MPa) Yield strength (MPa)
1 A 43.2 30.06
2 B 44.4 31.02
3 C 35.4 22.66
4 D 44.5 31.02
5 E 50.3 32.26
6 F 49.1 31.92
7 G 51.6 33.12
187
when compared with the tensile strengths of the kenaf, sisal
and jute composites which are approximately 20 N/mm2 at
30% volume fraction with polypropylene [22].
3.2.2 Yield Strength
Figure 9 reveals that amongst all the other combinations,
the hybrid FRP composite added with nano-sized coconut
shell powder composite with ± 30 orientation exhibits
high yield strength of about 33.12 N/mm2 which is higher
when compared with the other combination, also highest
when compared with the strengths of the sisal, kenaf and
jute composites which are approximately 15 N/mm2 [22].
3.2.3 Young’s Modulus
Figure 10 shows the specimen versus young’s modulus of
Hybrid FRP composite added with fillers of ± 30 orien-
tation of the tensile specimens. The below graph has been
drawn using MATLAB. When testing results are com-
pared, it is noticed that the Hybrid FRP added nano-powder
composites exhibit high Young’s modulus of about
559.29 N/mm2. Further, the hybrid bamboo/glass specimen
expresses a young’s modulus of 549.16 N/mm2 and hybrid
FRP added micro-coconut shell filler shows a very signif-
icant increase in young’s modulus of 530.28 N/mm2 when
compared to hybrid combination with different orientation
[22].
3.2.4 % Elongation
Figure 11 shows the specimen versus elongation of hybrid
FRP composite added with fillers of ± 30 orientation. The
below graph has been drawn using MATLAB. The hybrid
FRP sample elongates by 4.45%. Further, hybrid FRP
added micro-coconut shell powder elongates by 4.07%.
Pure bamboo and pure glass specimens elongate by 2.65%
and 2.58%, respectively.
Young’s modulus (MPa) Elongation (%)
503.32 2.65
520.22 2.58
487.24 4.55
520.89 2.58
549.16 2.05
530.28 4.07
559.29 2.38
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Table 3 Stress–strain values of tensile specimens with respect to ± 30 orientations

Strain Stress (MPa) Stress (MPa) Stress (MPa) Stress (MPa) Stress (MPa) Stress (MPa) Stress (MPa)

X A B C D E F G
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.001 4.907 5.4730 5.684 3.852 5.481 4.249 4.838
0.002 10.959 10.1815 11.519 7.815 5.339 4.957 9.665
0.003 11.915 16.4508 11.368 11.667 10.678 10.330 14.601
0.005 17.011 22.638 16.006 15.630 16.127 15.146 19.505
0.006 22.900 26.9033 16.604 19.592 21.466 20.049 24.408
0.007 29.116 32.382 16.754 27.297 26.260 25.498 29.421
0.008 33.859 32.078 22.438 31.370 27.568 30.401 34.215
0.009 34.677 35.399 28.272 35.222 31.927 34.869 39.228
0.011 39.584 38.399 33.508 35.112 37.375 35.632 42.714
0.014 47.272 48.497 44.876 39.445 42.823 40.753 43.695

Fig. 7 Tensile true stress–strain

curve of specimens with respect
to ± 30 orientations

3.2.5 3D Surface Plot and 2D Contour Plot
Figure 12 shows the 3D response surface plots showing
the specimens (x), fibre volume (y) and tensile strength
(z) for ± 30 orientation. The graph has been drawn
using MATLAB. The input variables are the primary and
secondary horizontal axes. The vertical axis is the cal-
culated response (i.e., Tensile strength). The 3D surface
plot reveals that when the fibre volume fraction is glass
(15%), bamboo (12%) and coconut shell powder in
nano-size (3%), the specimen G possess the highest
tensile strength among all the composites. Thus, the
interaction between the fibre volume and fibre loading
strongly affects the tensile strength in the composite
specimen.
Figure 13 shows the 2D contour plots showing speci-
mens (y) and fibre volume fraction (x) with ± 30 orien-
tation. The graph has been drawn using MATLAB. The
primary intention of contour plot is to evaluate the tensile
strength of composites corresponding to the fibre volume

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Fig. 8 Specimen versus

ultimate tensile strength (± 30)

Fig. 9 Specimen versus yield

strength (± 30)

%, in this case, the specimen G possess high tensile compared to other combinations. Thus, fibre volume per-
strength and specimen C produces low tensile strength centage plays a vital role in increasing the tensile strength.

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Fig. 10 Specimen versus

Young’s modulus (± 30)

Fig. 11 Specimen versus

elongation (± 30)

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Fig. 12 3D response surface
plots showing the specimen (x),
fibre volume (y) and Tensile
strength (z) for ± 30
orientation
Fig. 13 2D Contour plot
(± 30)
3.3 Effect of Fatigue Strength
There is a major effect on the life of fatigue performance
corresponding to the amplitude of the cyclic loading. The
S–N curve is determined for specific loading amplitude. We
have used R ratio of 0.1, which is defined as the minimum
peak stress to the maximum peak stress. For 30% weight of
fibre, sample 1 produces 5.2 9 105 cycles, whereas sample
2 produces 6.2 9 105 cycles. When the 3% weight of
micro-powder is added, it increases the yield by 7.1 9 105
cycles for Sample 3. Specimen 4 yields 6
5 9 105 cycles.
191
Fatigue life greatly increases to 11 9 105 cycles in speci-
men 5 due to the increment of 3% of coconut shell powder
and reduction of 3% in fibre.
Figure 14 reveals that sample 5 shows higher fatigue
(service) life compared to other samples. Most importantly,
there is a major dispersion in fatigue life on hybrid bam-
boo/glass added coconut shell powder polyester composites
for a particular interval of time. Figure 15 reveals that at
the 800 cycles, the specimen 5 poses 22.5% higher load
compared to all other combinations. Finally, it can be
concluded that the fatigue life increases with decreasing the
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Fig. 14 Effect of fatigue life on different samples
Fig. 15 Effect of S–N curves of different FRP hybrid composites
filler dimension of the hybrid composites as shown in
Figs. 14 and 15
4 Conclusions
The thermal, tensile and fatigue analysis of bamboo fibre-
reinforced polyester matrix and hybrid glass/bamboo fibre
with coconut shell powder in nano- and micro-sized com-
posites were fabricated using compression moulding tech-
nique and tested using ASTM standards. The following
conclusions were made:
• Thermal analysis is carried out by using TGA and DTG
analysis. The hybrid bamboo/glass fiber reinforced
composite with coconut shell powder reduces thermal
degradation compared to other combinations. The
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Trans Indian Inst Met (2021) 74(1):179–193
major temperature drop is noted at 360 C and less
prominent temperature drops are at 470 C and 685 C
respectively. Finally, the mass of 32.50 % is found to
remain at the end of the process at a temperature of 820
C. The thermal analysis confirms its stability to
withstand polymerization temperature. Thus, this char-
acterization results firmly confirms the possibility of
using this fiber for the manufacture of sustainable fiber
reinforced polymer composite.
• From the tensile and fatigue analysis, the results reveal
that hybrid FRP added nano-sized coconut shell powder
exhibits high tensile strength of about 51.6 N/mm2 and
good fatigue life (Service life) compared to other
combinations. Moreover, the fatigue life of sample 5
reveals that 3 wt% of coconut shell powder and
27 wt% of hybrid fibre increase the fatigue life.
• The result of thermal and fatigue analysis reveals that
influence of nanoparticles plays a vital role in the
enhancement of hybrid FRP properties.
Compliance with Ethical Standards
Conflict of interest I hereby declare there is no conflict of interest
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