Multi‐objective optimization of post‐curing process for GNPs reinforced glass fabric/epoxy nanocomposite laminae

Abstract

Post‐curing processes are fundamental manufacturing operations for epoxy matrix composites from which high‐quality parts are produced and see service in a great variety of industrial applications. Although many parameters affect these processes, only temperature is considered as affecting factor in most of the relevant studies. In this study, a multi‐parameter design of experiments, using Taguchi method, has been conducted in order to investigate the optimum post‐curing conditions for graphene nanoplatelets reinforced glass fabric/epoxy nanocomposite laminae. Both post‐curing temperature Tpc and time tpc were treated as independent variables in a L9 Taguchi orthogonal array addressing three levels each. Ultimate tensile strength and strain at break were examined as pre‐selected quality objectives. Through the multiple regression analysis performed, a highly accurate regression model was achieved for both optimization criteria. Finally, a multi‐objective optimization genetic algorithm was used for the above models. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E2483–E2489, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers

Multi-parameter analysis of curing cycle for GNPs/glass fabric/ epoxy laminated nanocomposites

“…Weighed amount of hardener was added into the GNPs reinforced epoxy resin mixture at the manu-T facturer recommended resin/hardener proportion, which was a 100:50 by weight ratio, and stirred gently using a laboratory mixer for mechanical stirring for a process time of 5 min at 200 rpm. Subsequently, the matrix mixture was coated and handrolled on E-glass fabrics in layer sequence under constant stirring [22][23][24][25]. For each hand lay-up procedure, four layers of E-glass fabric were employed in [0˚/45˚/-45˚/0˚]T sequence.…”

“…All specimens left in ambient temperature for 6 hours before the curing conditions of the Taguchi design of experiments were applied. Therefore, the complete curing cycle applied is presented in Fig.2 The curing temperature (T cure ) can be either higher or lower of the glass transition temperature (T g ) [3][4][5][22][23][24][25]. When Tcure>Tg, the reaction proceeds rapidly at a rate driven by chemical kinetics.…”

“…Taguchi's method uses a special design of orthogonal arrays to study the entire process parameter space with just a small number of experiments. Using Taguchi's method the number of experiments to evaluate the influence of control parameters on certain quality properties or characteristics is considerably reduced as compared to a full factorial approach [23,24]. There are three ways of transformation to calculate the loss function, depending on the desired characteristic of the measured value.…”

“…The loss function of the ''the-higher-the-better'' quality characteristic (yk), which was used for this study, with m as the mean of the target quality parameter is calculated as shown in Eq. 1where L ij is the loss function of the ith performance characteristic in the jth experiment [23,24].…”

Application of hybrid analytical hierarchy process and complex proportional assessment approach for optimal design of brake friction materials

“…Thus, the friction material design and development is believed to be a multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) problem . Generally, MCDM techniques are quantitative methodologies used to solve problems which involves huge number of alternatives and criterion and successfully applied to solve various engineering decision‐making problems .…”