Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Vinyl Ester Composites Reinforced with Coconut and Glass

Vinyl ester composites reinforced with treated coconut (shells and fibers) and glass (powder and fibers) have been investigated using numerical, experimental, and statistical methods. Tensile and bending tests were applied. Numerical simulation was conducted using the Finite Element Method (FEM) with the ABAQUS CAE 2019 program for tensile and flexural samples. Experimental values were analyzed using the statistical analysis from the Minitab Statistical Software 2022 program. The simulation results illustrate the great convergence between numerical and experimental values. By analyzing the experimental results, the 30% and 40% filler ratios prevailed in all the vinyl ester composites reinforced with coconut and glass. The strength values obtained from the simulation did not exceed the experimental laboratory values by more than 5% in the tensile test and 10.6% in the bending test. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has demonstrated improved adhesion in synthetic fiber, displaying holes formed by the removal and pulling of fibers and particles from the polymer. The mechanical properties of these composites encourage their further study, as they can be used in many structural industries.