Modelling and fabrication of synthetic-natural fibre sandwich structure for fish feeder hull

The rising demand for ecologically friendly composites in the maritime industry has paved the way for the development of hybrid composites that use both natural and man-made materials. These composites offer a wide range of benefits in terms of physical and structural strength. Researchers are working hard to develop composite sandwiches that employ natural resources for both the skin and the core in order to reduce weight, increase biodegradability, and save costs. This article describes the modelling and development of a natural-synthetic composite sandwich structure for a fish feeder hull. The task of modelling was accomplished using SolidWorks 2021 software. However, the paper does not highlight the importance of modelling, as a separate study has been planned. The present work focuses more on the fabrication aspect of the fish feeder hull. Glass fibre and jute fibre are used in the construction of skin material, and polyurethane foam is used as a core material. Epoxy based resin was used as the bonding agent. Hand lay-up technique is used in the fabrication of sandwich structures. The overall weight of the fabricated boat was 45 kg only, and stability studies indicated that the boat was stable up to a load of 185 kg.