Advanced Characterization of Natural Fiber Composites Using Digital Image Correlation

Composites made from natural fibers have drawn much interest because of their sustainability, lightweight qualities, and capacity to replace synthetic materials in a variety of engineering applications. Nevertheless, their mechanical behavior is still complicated, and precise performance assessment calls for sophisticated characterization methods. This work presents unique approaches to full-field strain and displacement. investigation of natural fiber composites mechanically employing Digital Image Correlation (DIC), a non-contact optical measurement method. The study’s use of DIC allows for the accurate capture of deformation patterns under various loading scenarios, facilitating a thorough knowledge of the fiber-matrix interactions, failure causes, and structural integrity of the composite. The experimental results are evaluated against standard methods, revealing that DIC allows a more complete and accurate evaluation of natural fiber composites’ mechanical properties. This work contributes to the wider use of natural fiber composites in sectors such as construction, automotive, and aerospace by highlighting the potential of digital image correlation (DIC) to improve material testing precision and by suggesting new approaches for optimizing natural fiber composite design.