Diah Wulandari, Dewi Puspitasari, Nisrina Atiqoh, Willy Artha Wirawan
The growing demand for sustainable and high-performance automotive components highlights the need to develop natural fiber-reinforced composites with optimized mechanical properties. This study investigates the influence of bamboo fiber orientation (0°, 45°, and 90°) on the impact energy, tensile strength, and flexural strength of polyester-based composites intended for vehicle bumper applications. Employing the hand lay-up technique and mechanical testing in accordance with ASTM standards, the study quantitatively assesses how fiber alignment affects structural performance. The results indicate that composites with a 0°fiber orientation exhibited the highest impact energy absorption, reaching 3.70 J. The 45°orientation produced the highest flexural strength at 21.28 MPa, while the 90°orientation resulted in moderate tensile strength improvement, reaching 3.8 MPa, and achieved a maximum Young’s modulus of 27 GPa. These findings underscore the pivotal role of fiber orientation in enhancing load transfer efficiency and determining failure mechanisms. The study offers valuable empirical evidence to support the design of sustainable, fiber-reinforced bumper systems through optimized fiber alignment and potential hybridization strategies. ©2025 The authors.
Department of Applied Mechanical Engineering, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, 60231, Indonesia; Department of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Politeknik Penerbangan Surabaya, Surabaya, 60236, Indonesia
