The development of environmentally benign silicone composites from sugar palm fibre and silicone rubber was carried out in this study. The mechanical, physical, and morphological properties of the composites with sugar palm (SP) filler contents ranging from 0% to 16% by weight (wt%) were investigated. Based on the uniaxial tensile tests, it was found that the increment in filler content led to higher stiffness. Via dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), the viscoelastic properties of the silicone biocomposite showed that the storage modulus and loss modulus increased with the increment in filler content. The physical properties also revealed that the density and moisture absorption rate increased as the filler content increased. Inversely, the swelling effect of the highest filler content (16 wt%) revealed that its swelling ratio possessed the lowest rate as compared to the lower filler addition and pure silicone rubber. The morphological analysis via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the sugar palm filler was evenly dispersed and no agglomeration could be seen. Thus, it can be concluded that the addition of sugar palm filler enhanced the stiffness property of silicone rubber. These new findings could contribute positively to the employment of natural fibres as reinforcements for greener biocomposite materials.

This paper aims to model, simulate and perform the stress analysis of an actual low loader structure consisting of I-beams design application of 35 tonne trailer designed in-house by Sumai Engineering Sdn. Bhd, (SESB). The material of structure is Low Alloy Steel A 710 C (Class 3) with 552 MPa of yield strength and 620 MPa of tensile strength. The scope of this study concern on structural design of the I-beams for info and data gathering, which will be used for further design improvement. Finite element modeling (FEM), simulations and analysis are performed using a modeling software i.e. CATIA V5R18.Firstly, a 3-D model of low loader based on design from SESB is created by using CATIA. Stress and displacement contour are later constructed and the maximum deflection and stress are determined by performing stress analysis. Computed results are then compared to analytical calculation, where it is found that the location of maximum deflection agrees well with theoretical approximation but varies on the magnitude aspect. Safety factor for the low loader structure has also been calculated. In the end, the current study is important for further improvement of the current low loader chassis design.