Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Hole Diameter on the Lateral Mechanical Behavior of Jute Fiber-Reinforced Composite Pipes

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Abstract
Composite materials are widely used as structural and machine components due to their high strength-to-weight ratio. Their lightweight nature is one of the most significant characteristics driving their increasing adoption. During service, composite structures may experience damage depending on operating conditions. In addition, mechanical joining to other components is often required. Adhesive bonding is generally preferred to avoid fiber damage during joining; however, in certain applications, mechanical fastening becomes unavoidable, necessitating machining operations such as drilling. In this study, composite cylindrical tubes reinforced with natural jute fibers were manufactured to promote sustainability. An epoxy resin matrix was used, and uniform resin distribution was ensured during production. Circular holes were drilled diametrically opposite each other in the fabricated composite tubes. The hole diameters were selected as 3, 5, and 7 mm. The peak force and energy absorption capacities of the perforated tubes were compared with those of an unperforated reference specimen to evaluate the mechanical performance degradation associated with drilling and potential fastening applications. The highest peak force was obtained from the unperforated specimen (S1), reaching 1.312 kN. Similarly, the maximum energy absorption value was recorded for S1 at 11.65 J. The lowest energy absorption value, 9.94 J, was measured for specimen S4, which contained two opposite holes of 7 mm diameter. An increase in hole diameter resulted in a nearly linear reduction in the energy absorption capacity of the composite tubes.

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