Prediction of tensile properties of MWCNT/Hemp fibre/fly ash reinforced epoxy polymer composites using various mathematical models

Abstract

In this paper, Multiwall Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), Hemp fibre, and fly ash are used to strengthen epoxy resins. Fabricating the experimental materials with the Design of Experiment (DOE) systematic Central Composite Design (CCD), a tool for Response Surface Methodology (RSM), allows researchers to examine the tensile behavior. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to look at how much reinforcing percent of Multiwall Carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), Hemp-fiber (HF), and fly-ash (FA) affects the tensile performance of composites (ANOVA). The Young's modulus (YM), yield strength (YS) and tensile strength (TS) all differ from the experimental values by less than 10%. The regression equation was used to create two models (Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Multiple Linear Regression Model) that estimate the elastic modulus for varying values of the reinforcing parameters, based on the experimental data. Finding the best possible settings for the reinforcing parameters in two models with maximum elasticity moduli of 2.705 GPa and 2.586 GPa, is the main objective here. Confirmation trials additionally demonstrate the optimization approach is accurate to within 4%.