Prediction of functional properties of nano [Formula: see text] coated cotton composites by artificial neural network

A Review of Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymers: Preparation, Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties

The early strength of geopolymers (GPs) and their composites is higher, and the hardening speed is faster than that of ordinary cementitious materials. Due to their wide source of raw materials, low energy consumption in the production process, and lower emissions of pollutants, they are considered to have the most potential to replace ordinary Portland cement. However, similar to other inorganic materials, the GPs themselves have weak flexural and tensile strength and are sensitive to micro-cracks. Improving the toughness of GP materials can be achieved by adding an appropriate amount of fiber materials into the matrix. The use of discrete staple fibers shows great potential in improving the toughness of GPs. Sisal is a natural fiber that is reproducible and easy to obtain. Due to its good mechanical properties, low cost, and low carbon energy usage, sisal fiber (SF) is a GP composite reinforcement with potential development. In this paper, the research progress on the effect of SF on the properties of GP composites in recent decades is reviewed. It mainly includes the chemical composition and physical properties of SFs, the preparation technology of sisal-reinforced geopolymers (SFRGs), the microstructure analysis of the interface of SFs and the GP matrix, and the macroscopic mechanical properties of SFRGs. The properties of SFs make them have good bonding properties with the GP matrix. The addition of SFs can improve the flexural strength and tensile strength of GP composites, and SFRGs have good engineering application prospects.

Comfort evaluation of ZnO coated fabrics by artificial neural network assisted with golden eagle optimizer model

This paper introduces a novel technique to evaluate comfort properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) coated woven fabrics. The proposed technique combines artificial neural network (ANN) and golden eagle optimizer (GEO) to ameliorate the training process of ANN. Neural networks are state-of-the-art machine learning models used for optimal state prediction of complex problems. Recent studies showed that the use of metaheuristic algorithms improve the prediction accuracy of ANN. GEO is the most advanced methaheurstic algorithm inspired by golden eagles and their intelligence for hunting by tuning their speed according to spiral trajectory. From application point of view, this study is a very first attempt where GEO is applied along with ANN to improve the training process of ANN for any textiles and composites application. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm ANN with GEO (ANN-GEO) was applied to map out the complex input-output conditions for optimal results. Coated amount of ZnO NPs, fabric mass and fabric thickness were selected as input variables and comfort properties were evaluated as output results. The obtained results reveal that ANN-GEO model provides high performance accuracy than standard ANN model, ANN models trained with latest metaheuristic algorithms including particle swarm optimizer and crow search optimizer, and conventional multiple linear regression.

Use of an Artificial Neural Network for Tensile Strength Prediction of Nano Titanium Dioxide Coated Cotton

In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) is used for the prediction of tensile strength of nano titanium dioxide (TiO₂) coated cotton. The coating process was performed by ultraviolet (UV) radiations. Later on, a backpropagation ANN algorithm trained with Bayesian regularization was applied to predict the tensile strength. For a comparative study, ANN results were compared with traditional methods including multiple linear regression (MLR) and polynomial regression analysis (PRA). The input conditions for the experiment were dosage of TiO₂, UV irradiation time and temperature of the system. Simulation results elucidated that ANN model provides high performance accuracy than MLR and PRA. In addition, statistical analysis was also performed to check the significance of this study. The results show a strong correlation between predicted and measured tensile strength of nano TiO2-coated cotton with small error values.

Aerogels for Biomedical, Energy and Sensing Applications

The term aerogel is used for unique solid-state structures composed of three-dimensional (3D) interconnected networks filled with a huge amount of air. These air-filled pores enhance the physicochemical properties and the structural characteristics in macroscale as well as integrate typical characteristics of aerogels, e.g., low density, high porosity and some specific properties of their constituents. These characteristics equip aerogels for highly sensitive and highly selective sensing and energy materials, e.g., biosensors, gas sensors, pressure and strain sensors, supercapacitors, catalysts and ion batteries, etc. In recent years, considerable research efforts are devoted towards the applications of aerogels and promising results have been achieved and reported. In this thematic issue, ground-breaking and recent advances in the field of biomedical, energy and sensing are presented and discussed in detail. In addition, some other perspectives and recent challenges for the synthesis of high performance and low-cost aerogels and their applications are also summarized.

Prediction of Methylene Blue Removal by Nano TiO2 Using Deep Neural Network

This paper deals with the prediction of methylene blue (MB) dye removal under the influence of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) through deep neural network (DNN). In the first step, TiO2 NPs were prepared and their morphological properties were analysed by scanning electron microscopy. Later, the influence of as synthesized TiO2 NPs was tested against MB dye removal and in the final step, DNN was used for the prediction. DNN is an efficient machine learning tools and widely used model for the prediction of highly complex problems. However, it has never been used for the prediction of MB dye removal. Therefore, this paper investigates the prediction accuracy of MB dye removal under the influence of TiO2 NPs using DNN. Furthermore, the proposed DNN model was used to map out the complex input-output conditions for the prediction of optimal results. The amount of chemicals, i.e., amount of TiO2 NPs, amount of ehylene glycol and reaction time were chosen as input variables and MB dye removal percentage was evaluated as a response. DNN model provides significantly high performance accuracy for the prediction of MB dye removal and can be used as a powerful tool for the prediction of other functional properties of nanocomposites.

Classification of Textile Polymer Composites: Recent Trends and Challenges

Polymer based textile composites have gained much attention in recent years and gradually transformed the growth of industries especially automobiles, construction, aerospace and composites. The inclusion of natural polymeric fibres as reinforcement in carbon fibre reinforced composites manufacturing delineates an economic way, enhances their surface, structural and mechanical properties by providing better bonding conditions. Almost all textile-based products are associated with quality, price and consumer’s satisfaction. Therefore, classification of textiles products and fibre reinforced polymer composites is a challenging task. This paper focuses on the classification of various problems in textile processes and fibre reinforced polymer composites by artificial neural networks, genetic algorithm and fuzzy logic. Moreover, their limitations associated with state-of-the-art processes and some relatively new and sequential classification methods are also proposed and discussed in detail in this paper.

Combined Use of Modal Analysis and Machine Learning for Materials Classification

The present study deals with modal work that is a type of framework for structural dynamic testing of linear structures. Modal analysis is a powerful tool that works on the modal parameters to ensure the safety of materials and eliminate the failure possibilities. The concept of classification through this study is validated for isotropic and orthotropic materials, reaching up to a 100% accuracy when deploying the machine learning approach between the mode number and the associated frequency of the interrelated variables that were extracted from modal analysis performed by ANSYS. This study shows a new classification method dependent only on the knowledge of resonance frequency of a specific material and opens new directions for future developments to create a single device that can identify and classify different engineering materials.

Neural network-crow search model for the prediction of functional properties of nano TiO2 coated cotton composites

This paper presents a new hybrid approach for the prediction of functional properties i.e., self-cleaning efficiency, antimicrobial efficiency and ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) coated cotton fabric. The proposed approach is based on feedforward artificial neural network (ANN) model called a multilayer perceptron (MLP), trained by an optimized algorithm known as crow search algorithm (CSA). ANN is an effective and widely used approach for the prediction of extremely complex problems. Various studies have been proposed to improve the weight training of ANN using metaheuristic algorithms. CSA is a latest and an effective metaheuristic method relies on the intelligent behavior of crows. CSA has been never proposed to improve the weight training of ANN. Therefore, CSA is adopted to optimize the initial weights and thresholds of the ANN model, in order to improve the training accuracy and prediction performance of functional properties of TiO₂ NPs coated cotton composites. Furthermore, our proposed algorithm i.e., multilayer perceptron with crow search algorithm (MLP-CSA) was applied to map out the complex input–output conditions to predict the optimal results. The amount of chemicals and reaction time were selected as input variables and the amount of titanium dioxide coated on cotton, self-cleaning efficiency, antimicrobial efficiency and UPF were evaluated as output results. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to assess the performance of CSA in prediction process. MLP-CSA provided excellent result that were statistically significant and highly accurate as compared to standard MLP model and other metaheuristic algorithms used in the training of ANN reported in the literature.

Geopolymers and Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Composites in Civil Engineering

This paper discusses the influence of fiber reinforcement on the properties of geopolymer concrete composites, based on fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and metakaolin. Traditional concrete composites are brittle in nature due to low tensile strength. The inclusion of fibrous material alters brittle behavior of concrete along with a significant improvement in mechanical properties i.e., toughness, strain and flexural strength. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is mainly used as a binding agent in concrete composites. However, current environmental awareness promotes the use of alternative binders i.e., geopolymers, to replace OPC because in OPC production, significant quantity of CO₂ is released that creates environmental pollution. Geopolymer concrete composites have been characterized using a wide range of analytical tools including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental detection X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Insight into the physicochemical behavior of geopolymers, their constituents and reinforcement with natural polymeric fibers for the making of concrete composites has been gained. Focus has been given to the use of sisal, jute, basalt and glass fibers.