SUMMARY
In the present study, the mechanical properties of plain-woven natural fiber reinforced composites (NFRC) are investigated. Three types of natural fibers: Cotton, Kenaf and Wool; are used to reinforce Epoxy-based overlaid composites. In addition, E-type fiberglass/Epoxy composite material is brought to check for comparison with NFRC’s. The mechanical properties of samples exposed to tractable, shear and flexural loadings are obtained. The results showed that the ratio of the specific tensile strength of the cotton/epoxy laminates to laminates reinforced with kenaf or wool fiber is equal to 1.71 and 4.47 times, respectively. Under shear loading, the specific strength of the cotton samples was also 1.24 and 2.45 times greater by changing the kenaf and wool fibers to cotton fiber, respectively. In addition, the specific flexural strength of the cotton/epoxy composites was 1.42 and 2.34 times greater than kenaf/epoxy and wool/epoxy composites. Moreover, the specific energy absorption related to the cotton/epoxy laminated composites under tensile loading is 2.7 times greater than that of the glass fiber reinforced laminated composites. At the end, in order to measure the amount of water absorbed by different samples, moisture absorption test was also carried out at intervals of 3 and 10 days. It was revealed that the greatest percent of the water absorption (7.47%) is related to the cotton reinforced specimen at an interval of 10 days.