Author: D. Prakash, S. M. Vinoth and B. Ravi Kumar

DOI: http://doi.org/10.31788/RJC.2026.1949900

Drive shafts are critical torque-transmission components in automotive systems and are conventionallymanufactured from SM45C steel, whose high density increases weight and rotational inertia. This study investigatescarbon and E-glass fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites as lightweight alternatives using the finite element method (FEM). A validated steel drive shaft model was developed in ANSYS and compared with composite designsto evaluate the influence of fibre orientation and laminate stacking sequence on buckling torque, failure torque, andnatural frequency. The optimised composite shafts exhibited superior mechanical and dynamic performance, achieving 30–40% weight reduction and enhanced vibration characteristics compared with the steel shaft. Thesefindings demonstrate that optimised FRP composite drive shafts offer an effective solution for lightweight, energy- efficient, and high-performance automotive applications, contributing to SDG-9: Industry, InnovationandInfrastructure through advanced materials and SDG-12: Responsible Consumption and Production by improvingmaterial efficiency and reducing vehicle weight.

Keywords: FRP, Carbon Fibre, E-Glass Fibre, Fibre Orientation, Stacking Sequence, SDG-9, SDG-12