Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

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Materials Today: Proceedings

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/matpr

Finite element analysis for predicting the vibration characteristics

of natural fiber reinforced epoxy composites
Mohit Kumar Saini a, Ashok Kumar Bagha a, Sanjay Kumar a, Shashi Bahl b,⇑
a
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar 144011, India
b
Department of Mechanical Engineering, I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University Hoshiarpur Campus, Hoshiarpur 146001, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Modal analysis is a tool to predict the vibration characteristics such as natural frequencies, mode shapes
Received 31 July 2020 and viscous damping coefficients of the structures. These characteristics play an important role in engi-
Received in revised form 23 August 2020 neering design and analysis. In this paper, the prediction of vibration characteristics or modal-modal of
Accepted 27 August 2020
cantilever beam made of neat epoxy and various natural fiber composites carried out by using finite ele-
Available online xxxx
ment analysis software ANSYS 20.0. In this study, the natural fibers such as jute, banana, coconut coir,
hemp and kenaf fibers are used as reinforcement in the epoxy matrix. The size of beam is
Keywords:
160 mm  20 mm  3 mm. The volume fraction of fiber is 33.33% taken for all natural fiber composite
Vibration characteristics
Finite element analysis
materials. The natural frequencies, damping factor and frequency response function bode plot are
Frequency response function obtained with the help of ANSYS software. The damping factor is found out using half power bandwidth
Half-power bandwidth method from frequency response function bode plot. The natural frequency and damping factors of dif-
Natural fibers ferent natural fiber composites are compared with epoxy material. It is found from this analytical study
Modal analysis that the damping factor values for each natural fiber composite material have higher values correspond-
ing to each mode than that of epoxy material. Hence, it is concluded that the natural fiber composites
have better damping properties than epoxy material. Hemp and kenaf fiber composite materials have
similar values of natural frequencies for lower modes (1st mode and 2nd mode) and at higher modes
(5th mode and 6th mode) respectively.
Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Confer-
ence on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering Research and Development.

1. Introduction fiber shows effective reduction in noise for broadband distur-

Natural fibers are gaining the remarkable value in the field of
engineering due to their frequent availability, low density, low
weight, better thermal, and acoustic insulation properties. Natural
fiber also used in composite material as reinforcement. So, it is
important to predict the vibration nature or damping properties
of natural fibers. Natural fibers like hemp, jute, banana, coconut
coir, and kenaf fibers have identified due to their high mechanical
properties and can be used as reinforcement in the matrix like
epoxy. Natural fibers like hemp, jute, banana, coconut coir, and
kenaf fibers also show the good acoustical properties to attenuate
the unwanted noise. In order to attenuate the higher frequency
unwanted sound, the natural fibers in the combination like jute-
air-banana and jute-air-kenaf are very effective [1]. The natural
⇑ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: shashi.bahl@ptu.ac.in (S. Bahl).
bances such as pink noise, white noise, traffic noise, construction
noise, train noise and machinery noise. An acoustical property
increases with increase in the thickness of natural fiber panel.
Especially kenaf fiber shows exceptionally great acoustical proper-
ties than other natural fibers [2,3]. Kenaf is one of the environmen-
tal friendly materials with great mechanical properties.
Kenaf fiber treated with 6% of sodium hydroxide shows
improved tensile properties. The kenaf fiber used as reinforcement
in composite materials shows better structural damping properties
[4]. To find out the damping factor form frequency response func-
tion (FRF) plot, the half power bandwidth method is used. Half
power bandwidth method predicted the better results for acceler-
ation frequency response transfer function [5]. LabVIEW software
is used to find out the damping ratio of structure. This software
generates the FRF curve for cantilever beam and the damping fac-
tor and natural frequencies are found out corresponding to each
peak of FRF curve [6,7]. Vibration-based damage detection is a

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.08.717
2214-7853/Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering Research and
Development.

Please cite this article as: M. Kumar Saini, A. Kumar Bagha, S. Kumar et al., Finite element analysis for predicting the vibration characteristics of natural
fiber reinforced epoxy composites, Materials Today: Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.08.717
M. Kumar Saini, A. Kumar Bagha, S. Kumar et al.
technique which can be implemented easily and also it has strong
optimization tools for damage detection of beams [8–12]. Using
finite element method, the modal analysis and harmonic response
analysis of machine components can be evaluated [13–17]. ANSYS
software can be used to modal analysis of complicated structures
and beam [18,19]. The mechanical as well as thermal properties
can also be evaluated with the help of finite element method using
software like ANSYS workbench [20–24]. Modal analysis of can-
tilever beam done by experimentally and validated by analytically.
In experimental method, the natural frequencies and mode shape
of natural fiber composite can be evaluated by using impact ham-
mer, accelerometer and Fast Fourier transform (FFT) analyzer [25–
27].
In this paper, ANSYS 20.0 finite element analysis software is
used to predict the vibration characteristics such as natural fre-
quencies and viscous damping coefficient of natural fiber rein-
forced epoxy material. To evaluate the damping coefficients the
half-power bandwidth formula is used [28,29]. The natural fiber
volume fraction (Vf) used in this study is 33.33%, and the rest is
epoxy matrix.
2. Analytical study
In this study, a cantilever beam made of neat epoxy and epoxy
reinforced with 33.33% natural fiber is simulated by using ANSYS
20.0 software. The cantilever beam having 1614 nodes and 180 ele-
ments is shown in Fig. 1. The dimensions of cantilever beam are
160 mm  20 mm  3 mm [30]. Fig. 1 represents the view of can-
tilever beam of natural fiber composite in which natural fiber layer
of 1 mm thickness is surrounded by layers of epoxy of thickness
1 mm each. Fig. 2 represents the single layer of 3 mm thickness
cantilever beam of epoxy. Fig. 3 represents the steps to solve the
static and dynamic problem in ANSYS workbench. To predict the
modal-model, the modal analysis tool of ANSYS workbench is used.
After that the harmonic response tool of ANSYS workbench is used
to find out frequency response function (FRF) bode plot. It also
gives the information about the phase angle with respect to the
excitation frequency.
3. Results and discussion
In this section, the modal-modal of epoxy and different natural
fiber composites is predicted and compared. Table 1 represents the
Fig. 1. Finite element model of cantilever beam made of natural fiber reinforced epoxy composite.
2
Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx
comparison of natural frequencies predicted at first six resonant
modes.
For lower modes like 1st and 2nd mode, the natural frequencies
of natural fiber composite materials of jute, banana and coconut
coir fibers are comparable to natural frequencies of neat epoxy
cantilever beam. But the natural frequencies of natural fiber com-
posite materials of hemp and kenaf fibers are greater than epoxy
cantilever beam. For higher modes like 5th and 6th mode, the nat-
ural frequencies of natural fiber composites of jute, banana and
coconut coir fibers are less than natural frequencies of neat epoxy
cantilever beam. But natural frequencies of natural fiber compos-
ites of hemp and kenaf fibers are greater than epoxy cantilever
beam same as the lower modes. Hence, natural frequencies for nat-
ural fiber composites like hemp and kenaf fibers have higher values
than neat epoxy cantilever beam for lower modes (1st mode and
2nd mode) and higher modes (5th mode and 6th mode).
Fig. 4 represents the frequency response function curve of neat
epoxy material. It has four peaks, so corresponding to each peak
the value of damping factor is calculated by using half power band-
width method. It is observed that as the natural frequency
increases the damping factor decreases. Hence, the damping prop-
erties are highest corresponding to lowest frequency epoxy can-
tilever beam.
Fig. 5 represents the frequency response function curve of jute
fiber reinforced epoxy material. The fiber volume fraction is
33.33% only. As the natural frequency increases the damping factor
values decreases. Damping factor values for jute fiber composite
have higher values than that of epoxy. Hence, it can be say that
the jute fiber composite has better damping properties than that
of epoxy material.
Fig. 6 represents the frequency response function curve of
banana fiber reinforced epoxy material. Damping factor values
decrease with increase in natural frequencies. Damping factor val-
ues of banana fiber composite have higher values than epoxy
material. Hence, the banana fiber composite has better damping
properties than epoxy material.
Fig. 7 represents the frequency response function curve of coco-
nut coir fiber reinforced epoxy material. It is obtained that the FRF
bode plot of coconut coir fiber composite has four peaks. Using half
power bandwidth method, the damping factor is found out corre-
sponding to each peak. Damping factor, natural frequencies are
predicted corresponding to each mode. The damping factor has
higher values for lower natural frequency and the damping factor
values decreases as the natural frequency increases. The damping
M. Kumar Saini, A. Kumar Bagha, S. Kumar et al. Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 2. Finite element model for cantilever beam of neat epoxy material.

Fig. 3. Static and dynamic analysis steps in ANSYS Workbench 20.0.

Table 1
Natural frequencies (in Hz) of natural fiber reinforced epoxy composite materials.

Mode Neat epoxy Jute fiber composite Banana fiber composite Coconut coir fiber composite Hemp fiber composite Kenaf fiber composite
1. 34.753 34.955 33.642 34.436 39.624 39.853
2. 217.43 216.3 210.52 215.49 242.92 244.12
3. 225.93 304.87 219.01 228.58 430.17 428.55
4. 504.07 431.26 542.58 553.87 458.64 466.98
5. 608.13 594.3 589.33 603.22 658.61 661.06
6. 1190.4 1135 1155.2 1182.4 1237.3 1240.2

Fig. 4. Frequency response function curve of neat epoxy material.

factor values of coconut coir fiber composite are higher than that of
epoxy material. Hence, coconut coir composite material has better
damping properties than that of epoxy material.
Fig. 8 represents the natural frequency, damping factor and
bode plot for hemp fiber composite material. The FRF bode plot
has four peak and corresponding to each peaks damping factor val-
ues are predicted. The damping values decrease as natural fre-
quency increases but have greater values than that of neat epoxy
material corresponding to each mode. Hence, hemp composite
material has better damping properties than that of epoxy
material.
Fig. 9 shows the natural frequencies and damping factor corre-
sponding to each mode and bode plot for kenaf fiber composite.
The damping factor has greater value for lowest natural frequen-
cies and value of damping factor decreases as natural frequency
increases. Like other natural fiber composite materials (jute fiber

3
M. Kumar Saini, A. Kumar Bagha, S. Kumar et al. Materials Today: Proceedings xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 5. Frequency response function curve of jute fiber reinforced epoxy material.

Fig. 6. Frequency response function curve of banana fiber reinforced epoxy material.

Fig. 7. Frequency response function curve of coconut coir fiber reinforced epoxy material.

Fig. 8. Frequency response function curve of hemp fiber reinforced epoxy material.

Fig. 9. Frequency response function curve of kenaf fiber reinforced epoxy material.

composite, banana fiber composite, coconut coir fiber composite,
hemp fiber composite), kenaf fiber composite material has greater
values of damping factor than epoxy materials. Hence, kenaf fiber
also has better damping properties than that of epoxy materials.
Table 2 presents the comparison of the damping factor (n) of
neat epoxy with the different natural fiber composite materials
such as jute, banana, coconut coir, hemp and kenaf fiber composite
materials for four resonant modes. For all four resonant modes,
each natural fiber composite has greater value of damping factor
than that of epoxy material. Hence, natural fiber composites have
better damping properties than the epoxy material. The magnitude
of damping factor of epoxy material and all natural fiber compos-
ites decreases with increase in the resonant mode. So, all natural
fiber composites including epoxy material have better damping
properties at lower resonant mode. It is found that the damping
factor of the epoxy material increases as it is reinforced with nat-
ural fibers. The value of n increases at the resonant modes. It is
noted here that the volume fraction (Vf) is 33.33% only. The value
of n can be enhanced by increasing the fiber volume fraction in
the matrix.

4
M. Kumar Saini, A. Kumar Bagha, S. Kumar et al.
Table 2
Comparison of the damping factors of neat epoxy with natural fiber composite materials.
Mode Neat epoxy Jute fiber composite Banana fiber composite
1. 0.2077 0.3706 0.278
2. 0.0394 0.2962 0.159
3. 0.0117 0.111 0.0327
4. 0.0129 0.02677 0.0293
4. Conclusion
It is found that the prediction of vibration characteristics of can-
tilever beam of epoxy and natural fiber composite is quite easy and
simple. From modal analysis tool of ANSYS workbench, the predic-
tion of natural frequencies and mode shapes are obtained and by
using harmonic response tool, the frequency response function
bode plot is obtained. The peaks are obtained in the frequency
response function bode plot. Corresponding to each peak, the damp-
ing factor can be predicted by using half power bandwidth method.
It is observed from this study that the damping factors decreases
with increase in natural frequencies for each cantilever beam.
Hence, the damping properties are better at low frequencies. The
damping factor values for each natural fiber composite such as jute,
banana, coconut, hemp and kenaf fiber composites are greater than
that of epoxy material. It is also observed that the hemp and kenaf
fiber composite materials show the similar values of natural fre-
quencies for lower modes (1st mode and 2nd mode) and at higher
modes (5th mode and 6th mode) also. By doing this analytical study,
it is concluded that the addition of natural fibers in the neat epoxy
enhances its damping characteristics. S0, the natural fibers can be
reinforced with epoxy matrix to obtain the light weight, better
damping properties and environmental friendly materials.
CRediT authorship contribution statement
Mohit Kumar Saini: Data curation, Investigation, Writing -
original draft. Ashok Kumar Bagha: Conceptualization, Methodol-
ogy, Data curation, Validation. Sanjay Kumar: Investigation, Writ-
ing - review & editing, Validation. Shashi Bahl: Writing - review &
editing, Data curation, Validation.
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
to influence the work reported in this paper.
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