A knowledge-based system for materials selection in mechanical engineering design

This paper studies various work on the development of computerized material selection system. The importance of knowledge-based system (KBS) in the context of concurrent engineering is explained. The study of KBS in material selection in an engineering design process is described. The development in materials databases, which sometimes serve as material selection packages, is also discussed. The use of KBS in material selection and the application in the domain of polymeric-based composite are chosen as typical examples

Design characteristics, codes and standards of natural fibre composites

The pursuit towards achieving sustainable construction worldwide has spurred a great effort in improving current practices in the building and construction industry. The high involvement in terms of research and application of environmentally friendly raw materials for the industry is one of the showcases of the effort made in achieving this goal. One of the most promising sources of raw material, which can highly contribute to improve the environmental performance of current building materials, is natural fibre composites (NFC). NFC is acknowledged as a renewable and recyclable material and can also offer advantages such as low cost and high material availability and, most importantly, has low energy and greenhouse gas emission implications during use. In this chapter the involvement of NFC for a sustainable construction process is explained with a focus on the design characteristics, codes and standards. An overview of NFC for sustainable construction is explained with examples on various building and construction product applications. Furthermore, a new proposed design model involving NFC laminate for shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams is also included in this chapter. Finally, a case study on the applicability of the new design model is also demonstrated using kenaf fibre reinforced polymer (KFRP) composites. It is expected that the design model can serve as a reference to systematic and correct design practice for practitioners, involving the use of NFC in RC beams for building and construction applications

A computer-aided material selection for design of automotive safety critical components with novel materials

An expert system for material selection for design of automotive component with fibre reinforced plastic materials has been developed. The expert-system shell KEE (Knowledge Engineering Environment) provides a tool to store and process expert knowledge. The system concentrates on selecting suitable materials for automotive components, in particular for major elements of pedal box system namely the mounting bracket, the accelerator, the clutch and the brake pedals. Data about the materials and their properties are stored in the frame-based system. The expert system enables material data to be accessed through user interface. Selection of the most suitable material is carried out through experience and expert knowledge (for instance, about manufacturing method for polymeric based composite materials) written in rule system. Factors like mechanical, physical and chemical properties, economic and manufacturing considerations were used in the material selection process. The material must satisfy all the above requirements in order to become a suitable candidate for a particular component

Conceptual design of biocomposites for automotive components

Recently, biocomposites became highly valuable due to their environmental advantages. The growing environmental awareness of people and the new stringent green policies enacted by governments has intensify the search and development of more environmentally friendly materials to preserve our immediate environment and public health. However, the selection of bio-based materials is quite difficult to perform compared to conventional materials like synthetic fibers and plastics. Hence, the use of computer aided tools for choosing bio-based materials help to minimize material selection errors and accommodates the increasing number of new materials as well as prevents financial and time loss. This review presented a brief insight of biocomposite materials selection using computer aided systems such as expert systems. Multi-criteria decision making models or tools also plays significant role in the evaluation and selection of materials. Numerous factors of various materials such as mechanical properties, material cost, environmental performance, just to name a few, are considered in the material selection process. These factors mostly contradict or even conflict with each other, which further complicates the task. Hence, to alleviate material selection problems and ease out decision making procedures, multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach is employed. MCDM is classified into multi attribute decision making (MADM) and multi objective decision making (MODM). MADM is the most common approach utilized for composite material selection purposes. This chapter also discusses about life cycle assessment (LCA) of products which is one of the widely used techniques in analyzing and quantifying the effect of biocomposite products on the surrounding environment during their total life time. Finally, a Case study on material selection of Bio-resin for biocomposites using modified digital logic and weighted property method was presented

The relationship between manufacturing and design for manufacturing in product development of natural fibre composites

In this chapter, a study of design for manufacturing of natural fibre composites is presented. Initially, the link between design for manufacturing and manufacturing itself is discussed in the context of natural fibre composites. An account of the manufacturing processes to produce products from natural fibre composites is given. Various activities of design for manufacturing of natural fibre composites in various industries are reviewed. Design for sustainability, a recent topic within design for manufacturing or concurrent engineering, in relation to natural fibre composites is discussed and reviewed. Current work on development of packaging materials from sugar palm fibre reinforced biopolymer composites encompassing materials selection of biopolymers and some testing is discussed. Finally, a case study on the application of design for sustainability guides for a natural fibre composite product is presented

Effects of Impregnation Pressure on Physical and Tensile Properties of Impregnated Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata) Fibres

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of impregnation pressure on physical and tensile properties of sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) fibres. The fibre was impregnated with phenol formaldehyde (PF) and unsaturated polyester (UP) with different impregnation pressures (1000, 900, 800, 700, 600 and 500 mmHg) at constant impregnation time of 5 min. Significant improvement in physical properties was observed due to reduction of moisture content (MC) and water absorption (WA) after being impregnated from 1000 to 500 mmHg while PF-impregnated fibre was showing more superior. Improvement in mechanical properties was also observed after being impregnated where much better tensile properties and toughness were found at UP-impregnated fibres while PF-impregnated fibres were found to be very much lower in toughness. This study concluded that in order to obtain a high toughness and better physical properties of sugar palm fibre, the fibre should be impregnated with UP resin with impregnation pressure of 600 mmHg

The development and properties of biodegradable and sustainable polymers.

This paper focusses on the review of development and properties of biodegradable and sustainable polymers which become an attracting area in materials science research. The basic properties and recent development in sustainable polymers such as poly lactide (PLA), thermoplastic starch (TPS), cellulose and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) were reviewed in this paper. This paper also provides a general overview of some important topics in biopolymers such as chemical, processing, mechanical and physical properties

Natural fibre reinforced biodegradable polymer composites.

Currently, numerous research groups have explored the production and properties of biocomposites where the polymer matrices are derived from renewable resources such as poly lactide (PLA), thermoplastic starch (TPS), cellulose and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). This review is carried out to evaluate the development and properties of natural fibre reinforced biodegradable polymer composites. They are the materials that have the capability to fully degrade and compatible with the environment

Concurrent engineering for composites

Customers want products that can satisfy their needs and product developers produce products to satisfy those needs while maintaining technical standards at reasonable cost. The balance between these two factors will ensure the success of the product developer and the satisfaction of the users. Concurrent engineering (CE) entails simultaneous consideration of life cycle issues from design brief to disposal, involving all functions within or outside the organization, including engineering designers, sales and marketing personnel, materials engineers, manufacturing engineers and suppliers. In this lecture, concurrent engineering philosophy is applied to composite material. The work involves total design, conceptual design, integration of IT tools, team-work and material selection, using conventional fibre and natural fibre composites. This lecture will begin with a definition of the various terms related to the topic, such as, concurrent engineering, composite materials and product design and development. Selected works on concurrent engineering for composites are reviewed and studies on materials selection systems used in the selection of polymer composites for engineering products are discussed. Further, reviews of conceptual design techniques in the development of composite products are presented. An important issue in composite development, i.e. manufacturing is also studied by looking at two important topics - mould flow analysis and the manufacturing process. Finally a new topic called “design for sustainability” is studied in detail, focussing on the development of ‘green’ products using natural fibre composite