Natural Fiber Composites for Sustainable Model Rocketry: Bamboo and Jute as Alternatives to Fiberglass

The search for sustainable alternatives to synthetic composites has become increasingly
relevant in aerospace engineering education and student rocketry. Fiberglass is widely
used for rocket fuselages due to its favorable balance of performance and cost, but it is
energy-intensive, non-biodegradable, and environmentally burdensome. This study provides
the first demonstration of natural fiber composites applied to student rocket fuselages,
evaluating bamboo and jute as sustainable alternatives to fiberglass. Fiberglass, bamboo,
and jute laminates were fabricated following the procedures of the RocketWolf team at
CEFET/RJ. The fuselages were characterized by parachute ejection tests, surface roughness
analysis, and flight simulations using OpenRocket software. Additional data such as laminate
mass, wall thickness, fiber–resin ratio, and cost analysis were incorporated to provide
a comprehensive assessment. Results revealed contrasting behaviors: untreated bamboo
composites showed poor resin impregnation, brittle behavior, and lack of structural stability,
confirming their unsuitability without chemical treatment. Jute composites, in contrast,
achieved adequate impregnation, cylindrical geometry, and superior surface roughness
(Ra = 37 μm) compared to fiberglass with paint (62 μm) or envelopes (52 μm). Both fiberglass
and jute fuselages successfully passed parachute ejection tests, while simulations
indicated apogees close to 1 km, fulfilling competition requirements. The jute fuselage also
presented slightly improved stability margins. Economically, jute was ~492% cheaper than
fiberglass in fiber-only comparison but absorbed more resin; nevertheless, real purchase
prices favored jute. These findings confirm that jute composites are a technically feasible,
cost-effective, and sustainable substitute for fiberglass in student rocket fuselages. Beyond
technical validation, this work demonstrates the educational and environmental benefits of
integrating natural fibers into academic rocketry, bridging sustainability, performance, and
innovation.