Browsing by Author "Semere Ayahuney"

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    The Potential of Alkali-Treated Sisal Fiber/Granite Reinforced Hybrid Composites for Automotive Semi-Trailer Loading Floor Applications
    (Mekelle University, 2025-06-13) Semere Ayahuney
    Natural fiber reinforced composites offer a sustainable alternative in the composite industry due to their low density, high specific strength, and eco-friendliness. Sisal fibers, abundantly grown in northern Ethiopia, are attractive for their low cost and favorable mechanical properties but are limited by their inherent weaknesses in mechanical strength, water absorption resistance, and durability. This research focuses on enhancing these properties in sisal/polyester composites for automotive applications, specifically for a semi-trailer loading floor. The study investigates the efficacy of alkali (NaOH) treatment of sisal fibers and hybridization with granite powder as a filler to improve mechanical performance and water resistance. Experimental evaluations determined that a composite with 30 wt.% alkali-treated sisal fibers and 5 wt.% granite powder (E8) exhibited the best overall mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, compressive, and impact strengths) and significantly reduced water absorption. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was employed to select this optimal composite formulation from various alternatives. Subsequently, a Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used to optimize the design of a sisal/granite hybrid composite loading floor, achieving an approximate weight reduction of 64.3% compared to a conventional steel counterpart. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) validated the optimized design, confirming a peak stress of 43.9 MPa and a minimum factor of safety of 2.19 in the most critical ply, meeting the design constraints. The maximum deflection was 1.459 mm, well within serviceable limits. The findings demonstrate the potential of alkali-treated sisal/granite polyester composites as a lightweight, durable, and sustainable material for semi-structural transport applications.