Experimental vibrational analysis of natural fiber composite reinforced with waste materials for energy absorbing applications

Abstract The growing need for sustainable materials has driven interest in natural fiber-reinforced composites. The vibrational behavior of natural composites incorporating unconventional, waste-derived fibers remains underexplored. This study addresses gap by investigating the dynamic characteristics of natural composite plates reinforced with banana fibers, sisal fibers, jute, chicken feathers, and palmyra sprouts. The objective is to evaluate how varying fiber compositions and aspect ratios influence the vibrational response of the composites. The composites were fabricated using the compression molding method, with polyester resin serving as the matrix. Impact hammer testing was employed to determine the fundamental natural frequency, damping factor, and amplitude across different fiber weight ratios and aspect ratios. Results showed that the composite containing 15 wt% palmyra sprouts, 10 wt% sisal fibers, 5 wt% chicken feathers, and 70 wt% polyester resin exhibited a fundamental natural frequency of 279.69 Hz for an aspect ratio (a/b) of 0.25 and 609.38 Hz for a ratio of 0.125. The findings indicate that optimized fiber blending enhances the vibrational characteristics, making the material suitable for vibration control applications. This study contributes to the development of eco-friendly composites with tailored dynamic properties. Future work may explore long-term durability and performance in structural and energy absorption systems.