Influence of elevated temperature on flexural behavior of a bagasse fiber-polypropylene composite assessed by moment curvature analysis method

In order to develop the structural applications of natural fiber-polypropylene composites, achieving enough knowledge about their mechanical behavior is necessary. One method for describing flexural characteristics of a flexural section is using the moment-curvature analysis which is an alternative for stress-strain relationship in many analyses. In this study the effect of temperature on natural axis position and flexural stress distribution in section of flexural test specimens was investigated using a moment curvature analysis method. Flexural, tensile and compressive tests were conducted in temperatures ranging from room temperature to 80 oC. A FORTRAN program was used for analysis of moment-curvature in flexural section of flexural test specimens. In order to verify the results of the program, the predicted load-deflection and maximum moment data obtained from the program were compared with the experimental load-deflection and maximum moment data and results showed that the program was able to describe the flexural behavior of the studied composite. Results showed that non-uniform flexural stress distribution led to moving up the neutral axis toward compressive side. Also with increasing temperature, the balance between compressive and tensile strain is maintained with shifting the neutral axis to compressive side, and with elevating temperature, the movement of the neutral axis decreased.