Finite element analysis of enset fiber composite material

Enset fiber, a naturally abundant and low-cost material, offers promising potential as a sustainable reinforcement in composite applications. This study presents a comparative evaluation of Enset fiber reinforced composite (EFRC) and glass fiber reinforced composite (GFRC) under identical fiber orientation, volume fraction, and loading conditions using ANSYS Composite Prepost (ACP) and ANSYS Workbench. The composites were analysed for their flexural, tensile, impact, and modal responses. Simulation results reveal that EFRC develops lower stress magnitudes to resist the applied loads, indicating better load-bearing efficiency. Specifically, EFRC develops a tensile stress of 4.7098 MPa, while GFRC develops 5.0518 MPa under the same loading conditions. In the flexural analysis, the stress in EFRC is 32.289 MPa, whereas GFRC shows a higher value of 43.893 MPa. Similarly, in the impact test, EFRC records a stress of 11,736 MPa, compared to 26,462 MPa for GFRC. Moreover, modal analysis shows that EFRC has lower natural frequencies in all vibration modes, reflecting favourable damping characteristics and reduced stiffness. These findings indicate that EFRC performs more efficiently by developing less internal stress under equivalent loading, which can be advantageous in structural applications requiring energy absorption and vibration control. Considering its mechanical performance, environmental benefits, and cost-effectiveness, Enset fiber presents a viable alternative to synthetic fibers like glass in the production of lightweight and sustainable composite materials. Further experimental studies focusing on durability, moisture resistance, and fiber-matrix interface optimization are recommended to support the broader implementation of Enset fiber composites in real-world engineering applications.