Analysis of Flexural Strength of Kenaf/PLA Composite Material Structures using Ansys Static Structural Simulation

Abstract

As the automotive sector moved with natural composite materials to enhance performance and reduce the environmental impact, automotive companies are continuously investing in finding the optimum ways to apply kenaf fiber. This study aims to analyze the influence of different controlled factors on the flexural strength of polylactic-acid reinforced kenaf fiber (PLA/kenaf) composites. Design of Experiment approach under Response Surface Methodology-Central Composite Design (RSM-CCD) on 3 levels of controlled factors of fiber orientation (0°,45°, 90°) and temperature (30 °C, 60 °C, 90 °C) which entailed 10 sets of parameters. To identify the flexural strength under different loading conditions, simulation works using Ansys Static Structural software version 2024 R1 were performed. The findings were then analyzed statistically through Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) where how the controlled factors and interaction between them influences the response was illustrated and discussed. From the simulation works, the response varies from 11.431 MPa to 250.35 MPa. The ANOVA revealed that the flexural strength of PLA/kenaf composites was significantly influenced by the controlled factors where the highest value was generated at 0° fiber orientation and 30 °C temperature. While the lowest value was observed at the maximum values of each factor. Based on the F-value, the response was dominantly affected by the fiber orientation, followed by temperature and interaction between them. Through optimization, RSM-CCD predicted the maximum flexural strength at 246.65 MPa to be generated at the optimal parameters of 0.674° fiber orientation and 30 °C temperature. Validation of these optimal parameters further confirmed the accuracy of the predictive model developed by RSM-CCD in enhancing the mechanical properties of the composite material. In conclusion, this study shows the importance of considering fiber orientation and temperature in optimizing the flexural strengths of PLA/kenaf composite materials. Exploring the effects of other process parameters and conducting experimental validation to further refine the optimization process and enhance the performance of these composite materials in automotive applications are fully recommended.