Open Access
ARTICLE
Conceptual Design of Glass/Renewable Natural Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Hybrid Composite Motorcycle Side Cover
M. A. F. A. Wahab1, S. M. Sapuan1,2,*, M. M. Harussani1, M. Y. M. Zuhri1, A. A. Saleh3
1 Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
2 Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
3 Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, 94300, Malaysia
* Corresponding Author: S. M. Sapuan. Email:
(This article belongs to this Special Issue: Natural Fibre Composites: Design, Materials Selection and Fabrication)
Journal of Renewable Materials 2021, 9(11), 1973-1989. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2021.016221
Received 20 February 2021; Accepted 15 April 2021; Issue published 04 June 2021
Abstract
This paper presents the development process relating to the conceptual design of glass/renewable natural fibrereinforced polymer hybrid composite motorcycle side cover. Motorcycle side cover is a component frequently
made from plastic or steel that functions on covering the motorcycle parts, components and systems such as
frame, battery, electrical systems and mechanical systems. Function Analysis Systems Techniques (FAST) is used
to identify the functions of motorcycle side cover. The right-side cover of motorcycle model SYM E-Bonus
110 has been physically studied to identify the competitive benchmarking criteria. The functions and competitive
benchmarking criteria are then compiled and integrated with the environmental requirements to identify the Product Design Specifications (PDS). The coir fibre has been selected from six identified dominant renewable natural
fibre used for automotive component through integration of Ranking Method and Quality Based Selection (QBS).
Then the polypropylene matrix is selected after shortlisting the existing thermoplastic that is used with coir fibre
and has high suitability for injection moulding manufacturing. The polypropylene matrix is then evaluated using
Weighted Evaluation Matrix (WEM) by comparing to benchmark material which is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). After that, the conceptual design development of glass/renewable coir fibre-reinforced polypropylene
motorcycle side cover is carried out using an integrated Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and Morphological Chart, followed by final conceptual design selection using integration of Pugh Scoring Method and
QBS. The conceptual design development intended on improving the biodegradability to reduce pollution to
the environment. However, the usage of glass/coir fibre-reinforced polypropylene hybrid composite may increase
the weight due to higher density. Four innovative design concepts have been developed and the selected final concept design has the most minimum number of ribs and minimum thickness with the same ratio of glass fibre and
natural fibre composition.
Keywords
Cite This Article
A., M., Sapuan, S. M., Harussani, M. M., Y., M., Saleh, A. A. (2021). Conceptual Design of Glass/Renewable Natural Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Hybrid Composite Motorcycle Side Cover.
Journal of Renewable Materials, 9(11), 1973–1989.
Citations