Abstract: In the current decade, a number of industries have moved their attention towards emerging sustainable technologies in order to better support socio-economic and environmental considerations. The present research investigates a unique hybrid composite developed by the amalgamation of natural kenaf-coir fibers, with resin of epoxy, incorporated with titanium carbide (TiC) nanoparticles. This study also presents the development process involved in manufacturing the composites, along with mechanical testing and optimization of these composite samples. The nanofillers of TiC are utilized in wt. percentages of 0%, 3%, 4%, and 5%, while coir and kenaf fibers are incorporated at 0%, 3%, 4%, and 5% by weight, and the thickness of the samples is varied at 2, 3, 4, and 5mm. The mechanical attributes of composites are evaluated using a vacuum bag molding process, with subsequent testing and optimization performed through Taguchi and ANOVA analysis to discover the optimal sample combination. The findings indicate that the most effective composite formulation includes 4% TiC, 5% kenaf, 5% coir, and a thickness of 3 mm, which provides the highest tensile modulus and strength among all tested samples. The integration of kenaf fibers with coir fibers and TiCs as fillers significantly improves the tensile and flexural attributes of the hybrid composite in contrast to composites made with coir or kenaf fibers alone.

DOI: 10.5267/j.esm.2024.12.002
Keywords: ANOVA, Titanium Carbide nanoparticles, Coir, Composite, Epoxy, Hybrid, Kenaf, Natural, Taguchi

	© 2010 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada. This is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the license. Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY)

Abstract: The article assesses the structural strength of sample materials destroyed on standard equipment for determining the mechanical properties of materials. The distribution of mechanical stresses of laboratory disk samples with stress concentrators in the form of grooves on the support surfaces was analyzed. It was revealed that the disc truncation along the two symmetrical chords allows for varying the type of stress state in the sample and intensity of stresses in the working zone. The problems of the linear theory of elasticity were solved for samples with different degrees of disc truncation and with different geometric parameters of the groove profile. The analysis of disk deformation showed that these laboratory samples can be used in simulating the type and level of stress-strain state of various parts of machines and mechanisms. This factor significantly expands the possibilities for assessing the structural strength of materials during laboratory studies of the materials. It was revealed that the type of stress-strain state (SSS) plays a role in localizing the sources of destruction of highly loaded structural elements made from structural carbon steel St45. The results can be used both for the experimental assessment of the structural strength of materials and for constructing limit state equations corresponding to a SSS level and type.

DOI: 10.5267/j.esm.2024.10.002
Keywords: Disk samples with grooves, Fracture of disk samples, Variant studies, Strength of truncated disks, Cracking of truncated discs, Failure of steel 45 under biaxial tension

	© 2010 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada. This is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the license. Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY)