Effect of Length of False Banana Fibre (Ensete ventricosum) on Mechanical Behaviour under Tensile Loading

The effect of gauge length of false banana fibre (Ensete ventricosum) on the tensile strength, volume energy, and modulus of elasticity under tensile loading was examined. Fibres of gauge length L0 (mm) 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 mm were prepared and tested until rupture point at strain rate of 0.05 min^–1. Mathematical models describing the mechanical behaviour of the varying gauge lengths were presented. With the increasing gauge length of fibre, the tensile strength and volume energy decreased while the values of modulus of elasticity increased. The theoretical model describing the mechanical behaviour of Ensete fibre under tensile loading presented herein provides useful information for the fibres application in industry. The determined models could be used as a background for further resea rch focused on Ensete fibre application.