Mechanical Behavior of Hybrid Date Palm—Glass Fiber Reinforced <scp>BMC</scp> Composites Under Dynamic Loading for Sustainable Structural Applications

Abstract

ABSTRACT The increasing demand for eco‐friendly, high‐performance materials has driven significant interest in hybrid natural‐synthetic fiber‐reinforced composites. This study investigates the mechanical behavior of bulk molding compound (BMC) composites reinforced with date palm fibers (DPF) and glass fibers (GF), focusing on static, dynamic, and viscoelastic responses. The hybrid composite (10D‐10G) demonstrated enhanced performance under quasi‐static loading, with a compressive strength of 83.27 MPa and modulus of 2.70 GPa, representing a 56% and 78% improvement over the DPF‐only composite. Under high‐strain‐rate loading using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar, the hybrid composite maintained robust strain rate sensitivity, with dynamic compressive strength reaching 877.67 MPa at 1424 s −1 , and a dynamic increase factor (DIF) exceeding 10.5. Viscoelastic characterization revealed superior thermal‐mechanical stability, with the hybrid showing the highest storage modulus (4.10 GPa), loss modulus (236.42 MPa), and glass transition temperature (97°C), alongside the lowest damping factor (0.1124), indicating improved energy retention and reduced molecular mobility. These results establish the hybrid BMC composite as a promising candidate for impact‐resistant, thermally stable components in automotive, construction, and aerospace applications.