Application of artificial neural networks for analytical modeling of Charpy impact energy of functionally graded steels

In the present study, the Charpy impact energy of ferritic and austenitic functionally graded steel produced by electroslag remelting has been modeled in crack divider configuration. To produce functionally graded steels, two slices of plain carbon steel and austenitic stainless steels were spot welded and used as electroslag remelting electrode. Functionally graded steel containing graded layers of ferrite and austenite may be fabricated via diffusion of alloying elements during remelting stage. Vickers microhardness profile of the specimen has been obtained experimentally and modeled with artificial neural networks. To build the model for graded ferritic and austenitic steels, training, testing and validation using, respectively, 174 and 120 experimental data were conducted. According to the input parameters, in the neural networks model, the Vickers microhardness of each layer was predicted. A good fit equation that correlates the Vickers microhardness of each layer to its corresponding chemical composition was achieved by the optimized network for both ferritic and austenitic graded steels. Afterward, the Vickers microhardness of each layer in functionally graded steels was related to the yield stress of the corresponding layer and by assuming Holloman relation for stress–strain curve of each layer, the area under each stress–strain curve was acquired. Finally, by applying the rule of mixtures, Charpy impact energy of functionally graded steels in crack divider configuration was found through numerical method. The obtained results from the proposed model are in good agreement with those acquired from the experiments.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Prediction water absorption resistance of lightweight geopolymers by artificial neural networks

In the present study, the Charpy impact energy of ferritic and austenitic functionally graded steel produced by electroslag remelting has been modeled in crack divider configuration. To produce functionally graded steels, two slices of plain carbon steel and austenitic stainless steels were spot welded and used as electroslag remelting electrode. Functionally graded steel containing graded layers of ferrite and austenite may be fabricated via diffusion of alloying elements during remelting stage. Vickers microhardness profile of the specimen has been obtained experimentally and modeled with artificial neural networks. To build the model for graded ferritic and austenitic steels, training, testing and validation using respectively 174 and 120 experimental data were conducted. A good fit equation that correlates the Vickers microhardness of each layer to its corresponding chemical composition was achieved by the optimized network for both ferritic and austenitic graded steels. Afterward, the Vickers microhardness of each layer in functionally graded steels was related to the Charpy impact energy of the corresponding layer. Finally, by applying the rule of mixtures, Charpy impact energy of functionally graded steels in crack divider configuration was found through numerical method. The obtained results from the proposed model are in good agreement with those acquired from the experiments.

     

Analytical modeling of tensile strength of functionally graded steels

In the present study, the tensile strength of ferritic and austenitic functionally graded steel produced by electroslag remelting has been modeled by artificial neural networks. Functionally graded steel containing graded layers of ferrite and austenite may be fabricated via diffusion of alloying elements during remelting stage. Vickers microhardness profile of the specimen has been obtained experimentally and modeled with artificial neural networks. To build the model for graded ferritic and austenitic steels, training, testing and validation using respectively 174 and 120 experimental data were conducted. According to the input parameters, in the neural networks model, the Vickers microhardness of each layer was predicted. A good-fit equation that correlates the Vickers microhardness of each layer to its corresponding chemical composition was achieved by the optimized network for both ferritic- and austenitic-graded steels. Afterward, the Vickers microhardness of each layer in functionally graded steels was related to the yield stress of the corresponding layer and by assuming Holloman relation for stress–strain curve of each layer, they were acquired. Finally, by applying the rule of mixtures, tensile strength of functionally graded steels configuration was found through a numerical method. The obtained results from the proposed model are in good agreement with those acquired from the experiments.     

Artificial neural network to predict the effect of heat treatments on Vickers microhardness of low-carbon Nb microalloyed steels

In the present study, an artificial neural networks-based model (ANNs) was developed to predict the Vickers microhardness of low-carbon Nb microalloyed steels. Fourteen parameters affecting the Vickers microhardness were considered as inputs, including the austenitizing temperature, cooling rate, initial austenite grain size, different chemical compositions and Nb in solution. The network was then trained to predict the Vickers microhardness amounts as outputs. A Multilayer feed-forward back-propagation network was developed and trained using experimental data form literatures. Five low-carbon Nb microalloyed steels and one low-carbon steel without Nb were investigated. The effects of austenitizing temperature (900–1,100°C) and subsequent cooling rate (0.15–227°C/s) and initial austenite grain size (5–130 μm) on the Vickers microhardness of steels were modeled by ANNs as well. The predicted values are in very good agreement with the measured ones, indicating that the developed model is very accurate and has the great ability for predicting the Vickers microhardness.     

Modeling hardness of Nb-microalloyed steels using fuzzy logic

The paper presents some results of the research connected with the development of new approach based on the fuzzy logic of predicting the Vickers microhardness of the phase constituents occurring in five steels after continuous cooling. The independent variables in the model are chemical compositions, initial austenite grain size, and cooling rate over the temperature range of the occurrence of phase transformations. For purpose of constructing these models, 114 different experimental data were gathered from the literature. The data used in the fuzzy logic model are arranged in a format of twelve input parameters that cover the chemical compositions, initial austenite grain size, and cooling rate, and output parameter which is Vickers microhardness. In this model, the training and testing results in the fuzzy logic systems have shown strong potential for prediction of effects of chemical compositions and heat treatments on hardness of microalloyed steels.     

Application of ANFIS for modeling of layer thickness of chromium carbonitride coating

In the present work, layer thickness of duplex coating made from thermo-reactive deposition and diffusion has been predicted by Adaptive network-based fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS). A duplex surface treatment on five steels has been developed involving nitrocarburizing and followed by chromium thermo-reactive deposition (TRD) techniques. The TRD process was performed in molten salt bath at 550, 625 and 700 °C for 1–30 h. The process formed a thickness up to 9.5 μm of chromium carbonitride coatings on a hardened diffusion zone. A model based on ANFIS for predicting the layer thickness of duplex coating of the specimens has been presented. To build the model, training and testing using experimental results from 84 specimens were conducted. The data used as inputs in ANFIS models are arranged in a format of twelve parameters that cover the chemical composition (C, Mn, Si, Cr, Mo, V, W), the pre-nitriding time, ferro-chromium particle size, ferro-chromium weight percent, salt bath temperature and coating time. According to these input parameters, in the Adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system models, the layer thickness of duplex coating of each specimen was predicted. The training and testing results in ANFIS models have shown a strong potential for predicting the layer thickness of duplex coating.     

Fuzzy logic-based prediction of compressive strength of lightweight geopolymers

In the present work, compressive strength of lightweight inorganic polymers (geopolymers) produced by fine fly ash and rice husk–bark ash together with palm oil clinker (POC) aggregates has been investigated experimentally and modeled based on fuzzy logic. To build the model, training, validating and testing were conducted using experimental results from 144 specimens. The used data in the ANFIS models were arranged in a format of six input parameters that cover the quantity of fine POC particles, the quantity of coarse POC particles, the quantity of FA + RHBA mixture, the ratio of alkali activator to ashes mixture, the age of curing and the test trial number. According to these input parameters, in the model, the compressive strength of each specimen was predicted. The training, validating and testing results in the model have shown a strong potential for predicting the compressive strength of the geopolymer specimens in the considered range.     

Thermodynamics and kinetics of solution nitriding

In order to clarify the thermodynamics and kinetics of solution nitriding, the non-uniform nitrogen distribution formed by solution nitriding was investigated in austenitic (18Cr–10Ni) and ferritic (25Cr) stainless steels, and then it was simulated with DICTRA. The main issue for austenitic stainless steel is the surface reaction determined by the mass transfer from gas to solid, while that for ferritic stainless steel is the ferrite to austenite transformation and the austenite growth kinetics induced by nitrogen absorption. DICTRA simulations gave close agreement with the experimental results and demonstrated that solution nitriding is obviously controlled by mass transfer of nitrogen from gas to solid as well as diffusion in the solid, and austenite growth is controlled by nitrogen diffusion in austenite. In addition, the analysis suggests that nitrogen should have a stronger interaction with chromium than that treated in the thermodynamic database and austenite nucleation induced by nitrogen absorption takes place without any change in Cr composition.     

Design of decision model for sensitive crop irrigation system

Agriculture Industry is highly dependent on environmental and weather conditions. Many times, crops are spoiled because of sudden changes in weather. Therefore, we need a decision model to take care the water requirement of sensitive crops of agriculture industry. The proposed work presents a novel and proficient hybrid model for sensitive crop irrigation system (SCIS). For implementation of the model, brassica crop is taken. The duration and amount of water to be supplied is based upon the weather prediction and soil condition information. The decision model is developed using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and artificial neural network (ANN) for brassica crops. In this model, if the input data values are available in range, then ANFIS model would be preferred and if the data sets are available for training, testing and validation then ANN model would be the best choice. The soil moisture, soil status in terms of temperature and leaf wetness are the input and flow control of sprinklers is the out for SCIS. The predicted outputs are analysed to assert the suitability of the proposed approach in the brassica crops. The proposed SCIS achieved an accuracy of 91% and 99% for ANFIS and ANN models respectively.     

Utilizing ANFIS for prediction water absorption of lightweight geopolymers produced from waste materials

In the present work, water absorption of lightweight geopolymers produced by fine fly ash and rice husk–bark ash together with palm oil clinker (POC) aggregates has been investigated experimentally and modeled by adaptive network-based fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS). Different specimens made from a mixture of fine fly ash and rice husk–bark ash with and without POC were subjected to water absorption tests at 2, 7, and 28 days of curing. The specimens were oven cured for 36 h at 80 °C and then cured at room temperature until 2, 7, and 28 days. The results showed that high amount of POC particles improve the percentage of water absorption at the early age of curing. In addition, the ratio of “the percentage of water absorption” to “weight” of the POC-contained specimens at all ages of curing was much higher than that of POC-free specimens, which make them suitable for lightweight applications. To build the model, training, validating, and testing using experimental results from 144 specimens were conducted. The used data in the ANFIS models are arranged in a format of six input parameters that cover the quantity of fine POC particles, the quantity of coarse POC particles, the quantity of FA + RHBA mixture, the ratio of alkali activator to ashes mixture, the age of curing, and the test trial number. According to these input parameters, the water absorption of each specimen was predicted. The training, validating, and testing results in the ANFIS models showed a strong potential for predicting the water absorption of the geopolymer specimens.     

Rough set and PSO-based ANFIS approaches to modeling customer satisfaction for affective product design

Facing fierce competition in marketplaces, companies try to determine the optimal settings of design attribute of new products from which the best customer satisfaction can be obtained. To determine the settings, customer satisfaction models relating affective responses of customers to design attributes have to be first developed. Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) was attempted in previous research and shown to be an effective approach to address the fuzziness of survey data and nonlinearity in modeling customer satisfaction for affective design. However, ANFIS is incapable of modeling the relationships that involve a number of inputs which may cause the failure of the training process of ANFIS and lead to the ‘out of memory’ error. To overcome the limitation, in this paper, rough set (RS) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) based-ANFIS approaches are proposed to model customer satisfaction for affective design and further improve the modeling accuracy. In the approaches, the RS theory is adopted to extract significant design attributes as the inputs of ANFIS and PSO is employed to determine the parameter settings of an ANFIS from which explicit customer satisfaction models with better modeling accuracy can be generated. A case study of affective design of mobile phones is used to illustrate the proposed approaches. The modeling results based on the proposed approaches are compared with those based on ANFIS, fuzzy least-squares regression (FLSR), fuzzy regression (FR), and genetic programming-based fuzzy regression (GP-FR). Results of the training and validation tests show that the proposed approaches perform better than the others in terms of training and validation errors.     

Prediction of entrance length for low Reynolds number flow in pipe using neuro-fuzzy inference system

This paper proposes an adaptive network fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for the prediction of entrance length in pipe for low Reynolds number flow. After using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique to establish the basic database under various working conditions, an efficient rule database and optimal distribution of membership function is constructed from the hybrid-learning algorithm of ANFIS. An experimental data set is obtained with Reynolds number, diameter of the pipe, and inlet velocity as input parameters and entrance length as output parameter. The input-output data set is used for training and validation of the proposed techniques. After validation, they are forwarded for the prediction of entrance length. The entrance length estimation results obtained by the model are compared with existing predictive models and are presented. The model performed quite satisfactory results with the actual and predicted entrance length values. The model can also be used for estimating entrance length on-line but the accuracy of the model depends upon the proper training and selection of data points.     

Low-firing thick-film piezoresistive sensors for medical instruments

In this work, a low-firing thick-film materials system allowing fabrication of piezoresistive sensors on surgical alloys is presented in detail, with application to a force-sensing surgical instrument. The system comprises a series of individual thick-film dielectric, conductor, resistive and overglaze compositions based on a lead borosilicate glass matrix. The moderate achieved firing temperature, around 625 °C, greatly increases compatibility with metallic substrates, allowing the use of high-strength medical alloys with low thermal degradation. Specific fillers for the dielectric layers increase adhesion on steel substrates and allow thermal matching to austenitic and ferritic/martensitic steels, as well as titanium alloys, and preliminary work demonstrating reactive stabilisation of the dielectric layer to achieve an even wider process window is also shown. Finally, the functionality of this materials system is successfully demonstrated here by implementing it into a previously developed ligament-balancing force sensor for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) [1].     

ANFIS-based prediction of the compressive strength of geopolymers with seeded fly ash and rice husk–bark ash

In the present work, compressive strength of geopolymers made from seeded fly ash and rice husk–bark ash has been predicted by adaptive network-based fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS). Different specimens, made from a mixture of fly ash and rice husk–bark ash in fine and coarse forms and a mixture of water glass and NaOH mixture as alkali activator, were subjected to compressive strength tests at 7 and 28 days of curing. The curing regimes were different: one set of the specimens were cured in water at room temperature until 7 and 28 days and the other sets were oven-cured for 36 h at the range of 40–90°C and then cured at room temperature until 7 and 28 days. A model based on ANFIS for predicting the compressive strength of the specimens has been presented. To build the model, training and testing using experimental results from 120 specimens were conducted. The used data as the inputs of ANFIS models are arranged in a format of six parameters that cover the percentage of fine fly ash in the ashes mixture, the percentage of coarse fly ash in the ashes mixture, the percentage of fine rice husk–bark ash in the ashes mixture, the percentage of coarse rice husk–bark ash in the ashes mixture, the temperature of curing, and the time of water curing. According to these input parameters in the ANFIS models, the compressive strength of each specimen was predicted. The training and testing results in ANFIS models showed a strong potential for predicting the compressive strength of the geopolymeric specimens.     

Prediction of quality characteristics of laser drilled holes using artificial intelligence techniques

Micro-drilling using lasers finds widespread industrial applications in aerospace, automobile, and bio-medical sectors for obtaining holes of precise geometric quality with crack-free surfaces. In order to achieve holes of desired quality on hard-to-machine materials in an economical manner, computational intelligence approaches are being used for accurate prediction of performance measures in drilling process. In the present study, pulsed millisecond Nd:YAG laser is used for micro drilling of titanium alloy and stainless steel under identical machining conditions by varying the process parameters such as current, pulse width, pulse frequency, and gas pressure at different levels. Artificial intelligence techniques such as adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and multi gene genetic programming (MGGP) are used to predict the performance measures, e.g. circularity at entry and exit, heat affected zone, spatter area and taper. Seventy percent of the experimental data constitutes the training set whereas remaining thirty percent data is used as testing set. The results indicate that root mean square error (RMSE) for testing data set lies in the range of 8.17–24.17% and 4.04–18.34% for ANFIS model MGGP model, respectively, when drilling is carried out on titanium alloy work piece. Similarly, RMSE for testing data set lies in the range of 13.08–20.45% and 6.35–10.74% for ANFIS and MGGP model, respectively, for stainless steel work piece. Comparative analysis of both ANFIS and MGGP models suggests that MGGP predicts the performance measures in a superior manner in laser drilling operation and can be potentially applied for accurate prediction of machining output.

     

Neural network and neuro-fuzzy assessments for scour depth around bridge piers

The mechanism of flow around a pier structure is so complicated that it is difficult to establish a general empirical model to provide accurate estimation for scour. Interestingly, each of the proposed empirical formula yields good results for a particular data set. Hence, in this study, alternative approaches, artificial neural networks (ANNs) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), are proposed to estimate the equilibrium and time-dependent scour depth with numerous reliable data base. Two ANN models, multi-layer perception using back-propagation algorithm (MLP/BP) and radial basis using orthogonal least-squares algorithm (RBF/OLS), were used. The equilibrium scour depth was modeled as a function of five variables; flow depth, mean velocity, critical flow velocity, mean grain diameter and pier diameter. The time variation of scour depth was also modeled in terms of equilibrium scour depth, equilibrium scour time, scour time, mean flow velocity and critical flow velocity. The training and testing data are selected from the experimental data of several valuable references. Numerical tests indicate that MLP/BP model provide a better prediction of scour depth than RBF/OLS and ANFIS models as well as the previous empirical approaches. Finally, sensitivity analysis shows that pier diameter has a greater influence on equilibrium scour depth than the other independent parameters.     

Modeling of transfer length of prestressing strands using genetic programming and neuro-fuzzy

In this study, the efficiency of neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and genetic expression programming (GEP) in predicting the transfer length of prestressing strands in prestressed concrete beams was investigated. Many models suggested for the transfer length of prestressing strands usually consider one or two parameters and do not provide consistent accurate prediction. The alternative approaches such as GEP and ANFIS have been recently used to model spatially complex systems. The transfer length data from various researches have been collected to use in training and testing ANFIS and GEP models. Six basic parameters affecting the transfer length of strands were selected as input parameters. These parameters are ratio of strand cross-sectional area to concrete area, surface condition of strands, diameter of strands, percentage of debonded strands, effective prestress and concrete strength at the time of measurement. Results showed that the ANFIS and GEP models are capable of accurately predicting the transfer lengths used in the training and testing phase of the study. The GEP model results better prediction compared to ANFIS model.     

Application of an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for classification of Behcet disease using the fast Fourier transform method

Abstract: In this study, ophthalmic arterial Doppler signals were obtained from 200 subjects, 100 of whom suffered from ocular Behcet disease while the rest were healthy subjects. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) was used to detect the presence of ocular Behcet disease. Spectral analysis of the ophthalmic arterial Doppler signals was performed by the fast Fourier transform method for determining the ANFIS inputs. The ANFIS was trained with a training set and tested with a testing set. All these data sets were obtained from ophthalmic arteries of healthy subjects and subjects suffering from ocular Behcet disease. Performance indicators and statistical measures were used for evaluating the ANFIS. The correct classification rate was 94% for healthy subjects and 90% for unhealthy subjects suffering from ocular Behcet disease. The classification results showed that the ANFIS was effective at detecting ophthalmic arterial Doppler signals from subjects with Behcet disease.     

Estimating electromyography responses using an adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system with subtractive clustering

This study aimed to develop an adaptive neuro‐fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) approach to estimate the normalized electromyography (NEMG) responses, where the independent variables are demographic variables including population, gender, ethnicity, age, height, weight, posture, and muscle groups. The study groups comprised 75 US‐based (54 males and 21 females) and 10 Japan‐based (all males) automobile assembly workers. A total of 65 inputs and 1 output reflecting the NEMG values were considered at the beginning. After correlating analysis results, a total of 35 significant predictors were considered for both ANFIS and regression models. The data were partitioned into two datasets, one for training (70% of all data) and one for validation (30% of all data). In addition to a soft‐computing approach, a multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was also performed to evaluate whether or not the ANFIS approach showed superior predictive performance compared to a classical statistical approach. According to the performance comparison, ANFIS had better predictive accuracy than MLR, as demonstrated by the experimental results. Overall, this study demonstrates that the ANFIS approach can predict normalized EMG responses according to subjects’ demographic variables, posture, and muscle groups.     

Neuro–fuzzy modeling tools for estimation of torque in Savonius rotor wind turbine

In the present paper, the ability and accuracy of an adaptive neuro–fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) has been investigated for dynamic modeling of wind turbine Savonius rotor. The main objective of this research is to predict torque performance as a function of the angular position of turbine. In order to better understanding the present technique, the dynamic performance modeling of a Savonius rotor is an important consideration for the wind turbine design procedure. It could be difficult to derive the exact mathematical derivation for the input–output relationships because of the complexity of the design algorithm. In order to show the best fitted algorithm, an extensive comparison test was applied on the ANFIS (adaptive neuro–fuzzy inference system), FIS (fuzzy inference system), and RBF (radial basis function). Resulting from the extensive comparison test, the ANFIS procedure yields very accurate results in comparison with two alternate procedures. The results show that there is an excellent agreement between the testing data (not used in training) and estimated data, with average errors very low. Also FIS with threshold 0.05 and the trained ANFIS are able to accurately capture the non-linear dynamics of torque even for a new condition that has not been used in the training process (testing data). For the sake of comparison, the results of the proposed ANFIS model is compared with those of the RBF model, as well. For implementation of the present technique, the Matlab codes and related instructions are efficiently used, respectively.