Modeling the Effects of Geometrical Irregularities in Bagasse Fibers on Composite Behavior using ANSYS Workbench

Bagasse fibers, like other natural fibers, exhibit geometric irregularities. Their diameters vary not only between individual fibers but also along the length of each fiber, leading to considerable variation in tensile strength. In a previous study, we analyzed the deformation, stress, and strain behavior of bagasse fiber-reinforced composites in ANSYS Workbench, assuming the fibers had a cylindrical shape. This study builds on our previous work by incorporating the effects of geometric irregularities. The bagasse fibers were first examined under an optical microscope, and images were processed using ImageJ software to measure fiber diameters at multiple points. These measurements were then used to model the fibers in ANSYS, employing Blend tool features to create geometrically irregular fiber structures. The results indicate that variations in fiber geometry significantly affect the deformation, stress, and strain behavior of the composites.