The effect of hybridization and stainless steel mesh on the post‐impact performance of needle punched banana/pineapple/unsaturated polyester composites

The main limitations of using natural fibers reinforced unsaturated polyester (UPE) composites is poor impact damage behaviors. This work focuses to improve impact damage resistance and residual strength of needle punched banana and pineapple fibers UPE composites by hybridization and incorporating stainless steel (SS) mesh. Different configurations such as banana/UPE (PB), pineapple/UPE (PP) and banana/pineapple/UPE (H) composites were fabricated. Later, SS mesh was incorporated in PB, PP and H composites which are denoted as BS, PS and HS respectively. All specimens were impacted with incident energy of 3.5 and 15 J using Fractovis instrumental low velocity impact tester at 2 and 4 m/s respectively. Subsequently, residual strength of impacted specimens was estimated using three point bending test. Results reveal that the HS composites have least residual dent of 0.89 and 3.9 mm and maximum contact force of 1507 and 1959 N were obtained under the impacted velocity of 2 and 4 m/s respectively, which indicated better damage resistance followed by PS, PP, BS, H and PB specimens. Similarly, the least absorbed energy of 1.9 and 12 J observed in HS composites showed better impact damage tolerance. Moreover, the damage degree and performance index were computed and validated with obtained results. The least reduction of residual strength of 1.2% and 3.2% in HS composites confirmed the better impact damage resistance as compared with all other configurations. Finally, microstructural analysis was performed to correlate the impact induced damage mechanisms. Highlights HS composites exhibited the least residual dent of 0.89 mm Impact load bearing capacity of HS composites was drastically improved by 280% Strong interfacial adhesion between the banana fiber and SS mesh was observed HS composites showed greater impact resistance under both velocities There is no significant reduction of residual strength in HS composites Assessment of impact damage performance of needle punched natural fiber reinforced hybrid polymer composites.