Statistical analysis of glass fibre epoxy composites reinforced with rice waste

The utilization of natural waste-based materials in engineering has garnered growing interest due to their environmental sustainability and material efficiency. This study quantitatively investigates the effect of rice waste as filler on the mechanical properties of glass fibre epoxy hybrid composites. The experimental design includes the fabrication of composite samples with varying rice waste filler content (10%, 40%, 50%, and 70% by weight), produced via the hand lay-up technique. Specimens were machined to ASTM standards using a CNC router. Mechanical characterization was conducted through tensile, flexural, and impact testing, generating quantitative performance data. Statistical analysis, including Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and regression modeling, was performed using Minitab software to assess the significance of rice waste content on mechanical responses. Results indicate statistically significant effects of filler ratio on tensile strength (p < 0.05), flexural strength (p < 0.05), and impact resistance (p < 0.05). The optimal filler content was identified based on multi-response optimization criteria, balancing mechanical performance across all tests. These findings support the viable integration of agricultural waste in structural composite materials and provide a statistically robust foundation for future material development.