Kenaf As A Bio-Composite Material For Aircraft Radome Application

Abstract

An aircraft radome usually refers to dome-shape structures which protect radar antennas on aircraft from aerodynamic loading weather as well as impacts from bird strikes and radar transparent. Materials that are used for small aircraft radome usually have low dielectric constant and high toughness. Current composite material using high strength fibers such as glass fiber, carbon and aramid are commonly used in aerospace structures. However, the worlds today are more focus on developing eco-friendly technologies. The need for biodegradable materials has prompted the usage of natural fibers. Natural fibers have comparable mechanical properties such as low weight, low cost, renewable and biodegradable. The fabrication for panel part method is using vacuum bagging. The vacuum bag technique involves the placing and sealing of a flexible bag over a composite layup and evacuating all the air from under the bag. For the radome part, the vacuum infusion method is being use. In my work method, tensile property of hybrid kenaf fiber composite was investigate via tensile test and impact energy of hybrid kenaf composite radome via quasi static test was analyzed. From the tensile tests that have been conducted, the maximum tensile strength is 6606.66N and the Modulus Young is 1.32E+09 Pa. From the quasi static test that have been conducted, the impact energy is 131.4kJ.