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This article presents a comprehensive review of the advancements in the use of Date Palm Fiber (DPF) reinforced composites, highlighting their mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties and the enhancements achieved through various modification techniques. Date palm fibers, a sustainable and biodegradable resource, have garnered significant interest due to their potential in reducing environmental impact across several key industries, including building and construction, automotive, and packaging. The review discusses the effects of hybrid approaches and physical and chemical treatments on the mechanical properties of DPF composites, demonstrating improvements in tensile strength, elasticity, and flexural strength through optimized fiber‐matrix bonding and reduced moisture absorption. Thermal behavior analyses through Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), and thermal conductivity underscore the composites' suitability for applications requiring high thermal stability and conductivity for insulation applications. Morphological studies reveal that surface‐treated fibers integrate more effectively with various polymeric matrices, leading to enhanced composite performance. The practical applications of DPF composites are explored, emphasizing their role in promoting sustainable manufacturing practices. Challenges such as scalability, cost‐efficiency, and performance consistency are addressed, alongside future perspectives that suggest a promising direction for further research and technological development in the field of natural fiber composites. This review aims to solidify the foundation for ongoing advancements and increase the adoption of DPF composites in commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the ultimate bearing strengths of pin-loaded double shear and T-bolt loaded connections were studied in thick composites, where the diameter of the pin equates to the thickness of the laminate. These bearing strengths were obtained for E-glass/epoxy laminates of [(±45, 03)n ,±45] and a Vf of 54%. It is found that the values for ultimate bearing failure and first non-linearity of pin-loaded connections should be reduced by 25% and 38%, respectively, when applied to T-Bolt connections. The failure modes prior to ultimate failure were primarily dominated by fibre matrix shear-out and delamination. As far as laminates with specific reinforcement architecture and a large percentage of reinforcement orientated to the load axis are concerned, the long-term service life of T-bolt connections may be impacted due to the visible onset of damage at a similar level to that accepted by Germanischer Lloyd for load introduction zones. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study aims to investigate the influence of fibre orientation and varied incident energy levels on the impact-induced damage of S2/FM94, a kind of aerospace glass fibre epoxy/composite regularly used in aircraft components and often subjected to low-velocity impact loadings. Effects of varying parameters on the impact resistance behaviour and damage modes are evaluated experimentally and numerically. Laminates fabricated with four different fibre orientations 0 / 90 / + 45 / − 45 8 s , 0 / 90 / 90 / 0 8 s , + 45 / − 45 16 s , and   0 32 were impacted using three energy levels. Experimental results showed that plates with unidirectional fibre orientation failed due to shear stresses, while no penetration occurred for the 0 / 90 / 90 / 0 8 s and + 45 / − 45 16 s plates due to the energy transfer back to the plate at the point of maximum displacement. The impact energy and resulting damage were modelled using Abaqus/Explicit. The Finite Element (FE) results could accurately predict the maximum impact load on the plates with an accuracy of 0.52% to 13%. The FE model was also able to predict the onset of damage initiation, evolution, and the subsequent reduction of the strength of the impacted laminates. The results obtained on the relationship of fibre geometry and varying incident impact energy on the impact damage modes can provide design guidance of S2/FM94 glass composites for aerospace applications where impact toughness is critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing drive in replacing conventional non-renewable fibres such as glass and carbon reinforced composites with more sustainable and renewable reinforcements such as flax, hemp, jute in biobased composites in key industry sectors such as automotive, marine, building and construction motivated by lower carbon footprint and sustainability. Despite this drive, flammability characteristics of these sustainable biobased composites are not fully understood. Through an up-to-date review, this article meticulously discusses the theme of bio-based and eco-friendly flame retardants (FRs), delving into their intricate mechanisms, flammability testing methodologies, and emerging research trends. It underscores the pivotal necessity of developing tailor-made eco-friendly FRs customised for a diverse range of materials to bolster fire safety in sustainable material applications. Furthermore, it illuminates the limitations associated with prevalent methods for assessing flammability and advocates for advancements in dynamic testing and multi-scale analyses to more accurately simulate real-world fire scenarios. This review also highlights the key characteristics of natural plant fibres and their composites critical for the development of sustainable and fire safe materials for key applications areas. Additionally, it highlights the diverse spectrum of strategies employed in the realm of flame-retardant materials research, emphasizing a pronounced shift towards eco-friendly alternatives, innovative coatings, and the ongoing exploration of synthetic biopolymers, nanocomposites, and fibres in the pursuit of heightened fire safety. Amidst the inherent challenges, this comprehensive review unequivocally underscores the pivotal role of interdisciplinary research collaboration in driving forward fire safety within the domain of sustainable materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to estimate the enhancement in the energy absorption characteristics of the glass fiber reinforced composites (GFRP) by embedding prestrained pseudo-elastic shape memory alloy (SMA) that was used as a secondary reinforcement. The pseudo-elastic SMA (PE-SMA) embedded were in the form of wires and have an equiatomic composition (i.e., 50%–50%) of nickel (Ni) and titanium (Ti). These specimens are fabricated using a vacuum-assisted resin infusion process. The estimation is done for the GFRP and SMA/GFRP specimens at four different impact velocities (65, 75, 85, and 103 m/s) using a gas-gun impact set-up. At all different impact velocities, the failure modes change as we switch from GFRP to SMA/GFRP specimen. In the SMA/GFRP specimen, the failure mode changed from delamination in the primary region to SMA-pull out and SMA deformation. This leads to an increase in the ballistic limit. It is observed that energy absorbed by SMA/GFRP specimens is higher than the GFRP specimens subjected to the same levels of impact energy. To understand the damping capabilities of SMA embedment, vibration signals are captured, and the damping ratio is calculated. SMA dampens the vibrations imparted by the projectile to the specimen. The damping ratio of the SMA/GFRP specimens is higher than the GFRP specimens. The damping effect is more prominent below the ballistic limit when the projectile got rebounded (65 m/s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]