Optimization of tribological performance of natural fibers/epoxy composites using ANOVA & TOPSIS approach

Abstract

Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites are being used globally in every field of engineering and technology to develop structural and non-structural components. These composites are being extensively used in automobile sector, aerospace sector, shipping industries and medical equipment’s. Such type of materials has gained attention due to their massive properties such as partial bio-degradability, non-toxic and high specific strength. The present work represents the optimization of tribological performance (frictional force, coefficient of friction and specific wear rate) of polymer composites using ANOVA & TOPSIS methods. In this work, polymeric composites were fabricated by jute, hemp, flax reinforced fibers with epoxy polymer using hand lay-up technique. ANOVA and TOPSIS have been used as an efficient tool for optimizing the wear data. ANOVA tool represents that friction force, coefficient of friction and specific wear rate of the samples have discrete effect with the composition of samples as well as applied load. ANOVA technique only mentions the effect of variable but do not define which sample has maximum effect of variables. TOPSIS technique assigns the rank of the samples according to performance.