Numerical model for the characterization of biocomposites reinforced by sisal fibres

Although several works have been recently published in literature about biocomposites, i.e. on innovative and ecofriendly polymer matrix composites reinforced by natural fibers, there are not studies on the influence of the waviness that various natural fiber present after their extraction. In order to give a contribution to the knowledge of the effects of the fiber waviness on the main mechanical properties of biocomposites, as the longitudinal Young modulus, in the present study a systematic numerical analysis has been carried out by using parametric models properly developed, that let the user to consider the effects of the key influence parameters as the fiber concentrations and the fiber curvature. Successive experimental studies have allowed to corroborate the accuracy of the numerical results, as well as to highlight the local effects due to the fiber waviness, that in some cases can become more significant than the global effects analyzed by the numerical approach.