DESIGN AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF GLASS FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITE FOR TWO-WHEELER MUDGUARD

The increasing demand for sustainable and lightweight materials in the automotive industry has led to the exploration of reinforced composite materials. This study focuses on the design and structural analysis of a glass fiber reinforced composite mudguard for automotive applications. The mudguard was designed and simulated using ANSYS software to evaluate its performance under real-world conditions. A finite element model of the mudguard was created with a quadratic order element, and a mesh convergence study was conducted to ensure correct simulation results. The boundary conditions were applied, with fixed support at the fastener slots and a load of 1500N applied perpendicular to the surface of the mudguard. A comparative study was carried out by simulating the same model with different materials. The simulation results showed a maximum deformation and a significant maximum equivalent stress, showing that the glass fiber reinforced composite mudguard exhibits excellent mechanical strength and stiffness. This research highlights the potential of glass fiber composites in enhancing automotive safety and efficiency while contributing to weight reduction. A sustainability analysis of E-glass was conducted, and the results were summarized in a dedicated sustainability report. The findings provide a foundation for further research and sustainable practical implementation of glass fiber composites in automotive engineering.