Detection of mechanical and physical performance in natural hybrid composite laminates: Stacking sequence optimization using bamboo, jute, and glass fibre reinforcements

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable structural materials has intensified research into natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites as viable alternatives to synthetic counterparts. This study investigates the effect of stacking sequence on the physical and mechanical properties of four-layer single-fiber and hybrid composite laminates fabricated using bidirectional woven bamboo, jute, and glass fabrics embedded in an epoxy matrix via the hand lay-up method. Six distinct laminate configurations were manufactured and characterized, three single-fiber baselines having four layer of bamboo, jute and glass fibres and three hybrid stacking permutations of all the three materials and evaluated through tensile, Rockwell hardness, Izod impact, and water absorption tests in accordance with ASTM standards. Fracture morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results demonstrate that glass outer layer hybrid composites (G+J+B+G) achieved the highest tensile strength (48.75 MPa) and impact resistance, while all-jute laminates exhibited the greatest water uptake (33.01%) and all-bamboo laminates displayed maximum elongation at break (19.53%). SEM analysis revealed superior fiber matrix adhesion in glass-reinforced configurations and pronounced fiber pull-out in natural-fiber-only laminates. These findings establish that stacking sequence is a dominant design variable and that strategic glass outer hybridization effectively reconciles mechanical performance with the weight-saving and sustainability benefits of natural fibers, offering practical guidance for composite design in precision-instrumented structural and sensing applications.