Examination of Fibre Arrangement Effects on the Mechanical Performance of Bamboo Fibre-Reinforced Polyester Composites in Taraba State

Bamboo is a rapidly renewable natural resource found abundantly in the North East and Middle Belt regions of Nigeria, representing a valuable raw material for sustainable composite production. This study examines the effect of fibre arrangement, specifically random mat, woven, and unidirectional configurations, on the mechanical performance of bamboo fibre-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites, using fibres sourced from Taraba State, North East Nigeria. Bamboo fibres were extracted by mechanical retting and treated with 5 percent sodium hydroxide solution. Composite specimens were fabricated using hand lay-up and evaluated for tensile, flexural, and impact properties following ASTM standards. Results indicate that unidirectional fibre arrangements achieved the highest tensile strength of 64 MPa in the fibre direction, compared to 38 MPa for woven and 24 MPa for random mat configurations. Flexural strength followed a similar trend, with unidirectional composites recording 72 MPa versus 41 MPa for woven and 29 MPa for random mat samples. Impact energy absorption was highest for woven configurations at 4.8 kJ/m2, attributed to crack deflection mechanisms at fibre crossover points. Random mat composites showed the most isotropic properties, making them suitable for applications where multi-directional loading is expected. The study concludes that fibre arrangement is a critical design parameter in bamboo composite manufacturing and recommends unidirectional layups for structural beam applications and woven configurations for impact-resistant panels in North East Nigerian construction contexts. Keywords: bamboo fibre, polyester composite, fibre arrangement, mechanical properties, Taraba