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Vibrations constitute a pivotal factor affecting passenger comfort and overall vehicle performance in both Conventional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles and Electric Vehicles (EVs). These vibrations emanate from various sources, including vehicle design and construction, road conditions, and driving patterns, thereby leading to passenger discomfort and fatigue. In the pursuit of mitigating these issues, natural fibers, known for their exceptional damping properties, have emerged as innovative materials for integration into the automotive industry. Notably, these natural fiber-based materials offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional materials for vibration reduction. This research focuses on evaluating natural fibers mainly hemp, jute and cotton fibers for their damping characteristics when applied to a steel plate commonly used in the automotive sector.

This study delves into the dynamic properties of hybrid composite materials, specifically focusing on the natural frequency and modal damping characteristics of Coir Fiber-Rubber Particles Reinforced Polymer Composites (CRP). Comprehensive experimental investigations were conducted utilizing an FFT analyzer. Initial experiments involved the preparation of specimens with varying rubber content, ranging from 2% to 5%. Coir, known for its cellulose-rich composition, was selected due to its innate damping properties, making it highly effective in mitigating vibrations. The primary motivation behind this research is to provide cost-effective solutions for reducing vibrations in mobility vehicles, addressing challenges associated with passenger comfort, durability, and overall performance. The study yielded promising results, with CRP exhibiting substantial reductions in vibrations.

Vibration control plays a critical role in conventional as well as next-generation vehicles. Construction of the vehicle, road conditions, and driving patterns are the major sources of the vibrations that cause discomfort to the passengers in the vehicle. Composite material is being looked at as an alternative material in the automotive sector due to its higher specific strength and good damping properties. In this research, the test specimen of steel plate used in automotive has been considered. The damping vibration test has been carried out on the test specimen by using the FFT analyzer to evaluate the natural frequency and damping. Thereafter, the hybrid composite material is developed with the natural fibers as reinforcement with steel plate to reduce the vibrations. The test specimens with different layers of damping materials have been prepared for this research. Jute, hemp, banana, and flax are used for the preparation of different composite materials.

A Vehicle Dynamics Analysis of an electric All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) is conducted and presented in the following paper. Vehicle performance is analyzed, shortcomings are identified and solutions to optimize the vehicle design are implemented. These optimizations are tested and results are compared with the pre-existing models and validated by conducting physical trials on the actual model. The virtual tests are carried out using Multi-Body Dynamics (MBD) tool- MSC ADAMS. The results obtained from the tests have been put forth in theoretical as well as graphical manner to get a clearer view. This research involved a thorough study of Lateral and Longitudinal Dynamics of the ATV. Trends in dynamic parameters like the ride quality, pitch response, roll stability, yaw response, camber gain and other important parameters of the vehicle have been studied and its correlation with the feedback obtained from the driver is established.

The usage of lightweight materials such as plastics and their derivatives continues to increase in automobiles driven by the urgency for weight reduction. For structural performance, body components such as A-pillar or B-pillar trim, instrument panel, etc. have to meet various requirements including resistance to penetration and energy absorption capability under impact indentation. A range of plain and reinforced thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics has been considered in the present study in the form of plates which are subject to low velocity perforation in a drop-weight impact testing set-up with a rigid cylindrical indenter fitted to a tup. The tested plates are made of polypropylene (PP), nanoclay-reinforced PP of various percentages of nanoclay content, wood-PP composites of different volume fractions of wood fiber, a jute-polyester composite, and a hybrid jute-polyester reinforced with steel.

Natural fiber-based composites such as jute-polyester composites have the potential to be more cost-effective and environment-friendly substitutes for glass fiber-reinforced composites which are commonly found in many applications. In an earlier study (Mache and Deb [1]), jute-polyester composite tubes of circular and square cross-sections were shown to perform competitively under axial impact loading conditions when compared to similar components made of bidirectional E-glass fiber mats and thermo-setting polyester resin. For jute-reinforced plastic panels to be feasible solutions for automotive interior trim panels, laminates made of such materials should have adequate perforation resistance. In the current study, a systematic characterization of jute-polyester and glass-polyester composite laminates made by compression molding is at first carried out under quasi-static tensile, compressive and flexural loading conditions.