Analysing The Impact of Fiber Volume Fraction on Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Marine Composite Materials

Rohit. P. Jadhav; Tapas Kumar Mohapatra; Rupendra Nehate; Vrince Vimal; William P.

doi:10.5750/ijme.v168iA3(S).1974

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Published: Oct 7, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5750/ijme.v168iA3(S).1974

Keywords:

Natural fiber reinforcement Marine structural materials SEM Fiber–matrix adhesion

Rohit. P. Jadhav

Robotics & Automation Department, D.Y.Patil College of Engineering Akurdi Pune, India

Tapas Kumar Mohapatra

Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751030, India

Rupendra Nehate

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indira College of Engineering and Management, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Vrince Vimal

Sharda University, knowledge Park III, Greater Noida, India

P. William

Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (Deemed University), Coimbatore, India and Centre for Research and Consultancy, UNITAR International University Selangor, 47301, Malaysia

Abstract

Sustainable marine composite materials offer lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and environmentally friendly solutions. However, systematic experimental investigations on the influence of fiber volume fraction (FVF) on their mechanical performance remain limited. This research experimentally analyses the impact of different FVF on the mechanical properties of sustainable and smart marine composite materials to determine the optimum reinforcement level. Composite laminates with FVFs ranging from 20% to 60% were fabricated and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and tensile, flexural, compression, and impact tests. The composite with 40% FVF exhibited the best overall performance, achieving a tensile strength of 78.6 MPa, flexural strength of 118.5 MPa, compressive strength of 105.8 MPa, and impact strength of 32.6 kJ/m². SEM demonstrated enhanced fiber-matrix adhesion with minimal voids at the optimal FVF, and FTIR indicated strong chemical compatibility, highlighting a viable approach for creating durable, lightweight, and sustainable marine composite materials.

Issue

Vol. 168 No. A3(S) (2026): Special Issue - Smart and Sustainable Material for Marine Engineering Applications

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