Mechanical Performance Evaluation of Brachyuran Shell Particle-Infused S-Glass Fibre Epoxy Polymer Composites

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | Special Issue 02 | Page : 500 507
    By

    Duppala Azad,

  • Venkata Ramana Menda,

  • Srihari Palli,

  • Dharmana Lokanadham,

  • Sivasankara Raju Rallabandi,

  1. Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aditya Institute of Technology and Management, Tekkali, Srikakulum, Andhra Pradesh, India
  2. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aditya Institute of Technology and Management, Tekkali, Srikakulum, Andhra Pradesh, India
  3. Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aditya Institute of Technology and Management, Tekkali, Srikakulum, Andhra Pradesh, India
  4. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aditya Institute of Technology and Management, Tekkali, Srikakulum, Andhra Pradesh, India
  5. Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aditya Institute of Technology and Management, Tekkali, Srikakulum, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Epoxy composites bio-filled with brachyuran crab shell powder and reinforced with S-glass fibres at different loadings (2%, 4%, and 6%) are tested for their mechanical properties in this work. Using modest amounts of filler significantly improved hardness, ultimate tensile strength, and flexural strength in the empirical data. The largest increase in hardness was 64.42% at 4% filler, up from 26.22% at 2%; however, there was a dramatic decrease to 13.11% at 6% filler. For 4% filler content, the ultimate tensile strength also peaked at 25.40%, following an 18.76% increase at 2% and a subsequent decline to 20.05% at 6%. This pattern was also observed in flexural strength, which peaked at 23.79% at 4% after first increasing by 19.47% at 2% and then declining by 19.47% at 6%. A filler concentration of 4% is optimum, according to these trends, because it maximises mechanical benefits via increased filler-matrix stress transmission and microstructural reinforcement. When this happens, the qualities start to deteriorate due to stress concentration locations and compromised composite integrity caused by filler agglomeration and inadequate interfacial bonding. In order to achieve a balanced improvement in both material reinforcement and manufacturing feasibility, it is necessary to optimise the filler concentration. This research shows that crab shell powder is an efficient natural filler for improving the mechanical strength of S-glass fibre-epoxy composites. By strengthening the link between shell particles and S-glass fibres, brachyuran shell reinforcement makes materials more rigid, pliable, impact-resistant, and tension-strong. Compared to standard S-glass epoxy and other natural fibre/epoxy options, the composites are far more durable, rigid, and long-lasting. Based on these findings, structural composites produced from bio-waste offer great promise for applications in the engineering field. Sustainability in advanced material design is promoted, and critical mechanical metrics are improved upon compared to present natural fibre-epoxy composites. The creation of long-lasting, sustainable composite materials designed for innovative engineering applications can be aided by these insights.

Keywords: Crab shell, S-glass fibre, polymer composites, mechanical performance, sustainable materials.

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer & Composites (jopc)]

How to cite this article:
Duppala Azad, Venkata Ramana Menda, Srihari Palli, Dharmana Lokanadham, Sivasankara Raju Rallabandi. Mechanical Performance Evaluation of Brachyuran Shell Particle-Infused S-Glass Fibre Epoxy Polymer Composites. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):500-507.
How to cite this URL:
Duppala Azad, Venkata Ramana Menda, Srihari Palli, Dharmana Lokanadham, Sivasankara Raju Rallabandi. Mechanical Performance Evaluation of Brachyuran Shell Particle-Infused S-Glass Fibre Epoxy Polymer Composites. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):500-507. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=239910


References

  1. Teja MS, Ramana M V, Sriramulu D, Rao CJ. Experimental Investigation of Mechanical and Thermal properties of sisal fibre reinforced composite and effect of sic filler material. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng. 2016;149:012095p. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/149/1/012095.
  2. Mohana Krishnudu D, Sreeramulu D, Venkateshwar Reddy P. A study of filler content influence on dynamic mechanical and thermal characteristics of coir and luffa cylindrica reinforced hybrid composites. Constr Build Mater. 2020;251:119040p. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.119040.
  3. Chandrakala, V. and Murty B. V. R. (2020). Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Chopped Strand E-glass Fiber and Basalt Fiber Reinforcement with Epoxy Resin with and without Addition of Crab Shell Powder. International Journal on Emerging Technologies, 11(4): 340–346.
  4. Nayak SY, Heckadka SS, Baby A, Samant R, Shenoy KR. Influence of bio-filler on the mechanical properties of glass/nylon fibre reinforced epoxy based hybrid composites. Journal of Computational Methods in Sciences and Engineering. 2021;21(3):631-639. doi:10.3233/JCM-200048.
  5. Rallabandi SR, Pilla DP, Dowluru S, Palli S, Sharma N, Sharma SK, et al. Critical evaluation of epoxy-hemp-pineapple-palm fiber composites using hybrid AHM-TOPSIS technique for sustainable structural applications. J Chinese Inst Eng. 2024;47(3):325–36p. doi:10.1080/02533839.2024.2308250.
  6. Rakhman, A.; Diharjo, K.; Raharjo, W.W.; Suryanti, V.; Kaleg, S. Improvement of Fire Resistance and Mechanical Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) Composite Prepared from Combination of Active Nano Filler of Modified Pumice and Commercial Active Fillers. Polymers2023, 15, 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15010051.
  7. Vara Prasad G, Nagappa S, Ravi Kanth Y, Gopi Lakshmi I, Babu Rao J. Effect of brachyura shell particles on glass fibre reinforced epoxy polymer composite. Mater Today Proc. 2021;42:555–62p. doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2020.10.521.
  8. Gopal Krishna UB, Srinivasa CS, Amara NS, Gudoor S. Processing, characterization and property evaluation of seashell and glass fibre added epoxy based polymer matrix composite. Mater Today Proc. 2021;35:417–22p. doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2020.02.818.
  9. Kabir MM, Mustak R, Hasan Sadik MM. Effect of bio-filler on various properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites. Hybrid Adv. 2025;10:100448p. doi:10.1016/j.hybadv.2025.100448.
  10. Oladele IO, Falana OS, Okoro CJ, Onuh LN, Akinbamiyorin I, Akinrinade SO, et al. Sustainable composites reinforced with glass fiber and bio-derived calcium carbonate in recycled polypropylene. Hybrid Adv. 2025;8:100357p. doi:10.1016/j.hybadv.2024.100357.
  11. Ifuku S, Kaminaka H, Shams MI. Nanochitin From Crab Shells: Production, Chemical Modification, Composite Materials, and Physiological Functions. Macromol Rapid Commun. 2025;46(9)p. doi:10.1002/marc.202400765.
  12. Mohanraj CM, Rameshkumar R, Mariappan M, Mohankumar A, Rajendran B, Senthamaraikannan P, et al. Recent Progress in Fiber Reinforced Polymer Hybrid Composites and Its Challenges-A Comprehensive Review. J Nat Fibers. 2025;22(1):1–10p. doi:10.1080/15440478.2025.2495911.
  13. A HL, Arul SJ, Basavaraj NM, S.P J. Influence of bio fillers on the characteristics of Luffa acutangula fiber reinforced polymer composites and parametric optimization using Taguchi technique. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):30730p. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-80316-2.
Special Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
Special Issue 02
Received 02/11/2025
Accepted 26/12/2025
Published 09/04/2026
Publication Time 158 Days
112

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics