Advances in finite element analysis and multi-scale modelling of moisture absorption characteristics in plant fibre reinforced composites and their hybrids—a review

Abstract There is a growing interest in harnessing sustainable plant fibre-reinforced composites (PFRCs) in key industrial applications due to their sustainable and eco-friendly attributes in comparison to their conventional counterparts, such as glass and carbon fibres. However, these plant fibres are susceptible to moisture absorption, resulting in the degradation of mechanical properties, dimensional instability, and reduced long-term performance. On the other hand, understanding and predicting the moisture absorption behaviour are essential for enhancing the reliability and performance of these materials for the full exploitation of their potential. The majority of existing review papers have primarily concentrated on experimental investigations of moisture absorption in PFRCS, with minimal attention given to Finite Element Analysis (FEA)-based approaches. Despite these advances, there is still a lack of literature dedicated to the modelling of moisture diffusion characteristics of natural plant fibre-reinforced composites, particularly in hybrid configurations, since only very limited studies have addressed the multi-scale phenomena and the integration of experimental validation. Therefore, this review paper critically analyses the recent progress in the FEA at micro, meso and macro modelling of the moisture absorption process of plant fibre composites and their hybrids and also focuses on experimental validation in relation to ageing mechanisms and long-term durability of plant fibre reinforced composites. Further this review paper provides a comprehensive analysis of FEA-based moisture absorption modelling in PFRCs and their hybrids, focusing on it as a critical resource for researchers and engineers aiming to enhance the durability and performance of sustainable composites in real-world applications.