In recent years, development of environmentally friendly materials including relatively high mechanical properties is demanded by various industrial fields. Especially, composites consisting of plant-based natural fibers and biodegradable resin, so-called fully green composites, are one of the most promising environmentally friendly materials for practical use. The purpose of this study is thus to explore the effects of fabric density and yarn twist on the mechanical properties of the composites reinforced with ramie woven fabrics, and clarify a difference between mechanical properties of the composites and reinforcing fabrics. The results show that tensile strength and Young's modulus of the composites are substantially different from those of the fabrics, because of the stress transfer mechanism of the matrix resin. In addition, the effects of fabric density and yarn twist on the tensile properties of the composites are discussed from results of a finite element analysis.
