Failure mechanisms and tensile behavior of standardized fique fiber composites revealed by computed tomography

[摘要] This study investigates how the interplay between fiber alignment and matrix ductility governs the tensile performance and failure modes of uniaxial fique-fiber composites. Two approaches were evaluated: using a flexible resin with higher failure strain and applying mechanical treatment to the fique fabrics. The baseline composite-manufactured with untreated fibers and a rigid polyester resin-exhibited premature failure driven by multiple matrix cracks. Replacing the resin with a more flexible matrix increased the tensile strength by 28% and suppressed matrix fragmentation, resulting in a single-fracture failure mode, as confirmed by computed tomography (CT). In contrast, mechanical treatment improved fiber alignment, raising both strength and stiffness by 76%. Although the treated composite still exhibited matrix fragmentation, it achieved a tensile strength of 111 MPa and an elastic modulus of 6.1 GPa, among the highest reported for commercially available fique fabrics. Additionally, in situ CT analyses during tensile loading revealed how matrix cracking governs the nonlinear mechanical response. These results demonstrate that controlling the failure mode and using standardized fique fabrics enables the development of natural-fiber composites with mechanical performance comparable to high-end commercial systems.

[发布日期] 2026-07-01

[关键词] natural fibers;composite materials;failure;CT scans;fique