Papers by Keyword: Taguchi Method

Abstract: The ‘one variable at a time’ method adopted in general to examine the effect of process variables on the response of any treated sample is dispensed with by adopting Taguchi method of experimental optimization using Minitab-18. The effect of simultaneous variations of time of exposure to seawater ageing, salinity of seawater and strain-rate variations on Inter Laminar Shear Strength (ILSS) of seawater immersed hand-laid-up E-glass fibre/epoxy laminated composites with 50:50 weight fraction have been, thus, statically analyzed. These factors are systematically varied within pre-determined ranges [salinity 30-40 ppt, time 30-90 days of immersion) and rate of loading (1-9 mm/min)]. The statistical methods are implemented to eliminate the likely inaccuracy of one variable at a time methods generally adopted for determination of the response variable. Inter laminar shear strength (ILSS) alterations as consequences of variations of the factors mentioned above are experimentally determined. Using these experimental values, empirical equations are developed for the response variable, the inter laminar shear strength (ILSS), adopting factorial design technique and Taguchi method with 95% confidence. To validate the empirical equation, thirty additional samples were tested with random variations of the factors within the pre-determined ranges. The corresponding ILSS values were also calculated using the developed equations. The observed and calculated responses showed a high level of agreement.

Abstract: Expanded Polystyrene Aggregate Concrete (EPAC) offers reduced structural density and carbon footprint while maintaining acceptable mechanical performance, making it a promising material for sustainable, seismic-resistant construction. This study investigates the natural self-healing behavior of EPAC, a largely unexplored area, using the Taguchi method to analyze the effects of EPS percentage of total aggregate volume (60%, 70%, 80%), cement content (410, 515, 594 kg/m³), and W/C (0.45, 0.5, 0.55). A novel method developed in this study, quantified a maximum healing efficiency of 67.5%, with results indicating that higher EPS content enhances healing due to its elastic nature. Compressive strength, thermal conductivity, and density were also assessed to validate the method’s reliability. The findings demonstrate the utility of the Taguchi method in construction materials research by reducing experimental workload while maintaining analytical depth. The proposed healing assessment method opens new avenues for evaluating durability in EPS-based concretes, supporting future innovations in sustainable construction.

Abstract: This study investigates the influence of milling parameters on the material removal rate (MRR) of thick mild steel. The study employs a designed experiment to evaluate the influence of cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut on MRR. A total of nine milling experiments are conducted on mild steel using orthogonal array method. The study aims to identify the optimal process parameters for achieving a maximum MRR on mild steel workpieces. The value of signal to noise ratio (SNR) is used to evaluate the optimal values of milling parameters for thick mild steel. Higher-the-better type quality characteristic is used to evaluate the SNR of MRR. Further, MRR is analyzed using ANOVA method to elect the significant milling process parameters based on P-values and fisher coefficient. Depth of cut found the significant followed by feed rate and speed. The contribution of each milling process parameter is also evaluated. Depth of cut contribution is found 66% on MRR of thick mild steel

Abstract: Friction stir welding (FSW) refers to a solid-state welding method specifically used for joining low-melting-point metals that yields an exceptionally strong joint and low thermal distortion. There are various conditions and factors in FSW which have the effect on weld quality such as rotational speed and plunge rate. This research project is focused on determining the optimal parameters of the FSW process on aluminum sheets grade 6061-T6, using CNC as the main welding machine. The design of experiments employed the Taguchi method, using two essential welding parameters: rotation speed (RPM) and welding speed (mm/min). The ultimate tensile strength and microhardness values (Vickers) of a welding joint from each experiment were used to find the optimal welding conditions. The experimental results show that FSW of the two aluminum sheets with the rotational speed of 1750 RPM and welding speed of 900 mm/min yields the highest mechanical properties of the weldment having the ultimate tensile strength of 304.29 MPa and microhardness (Vickers) of 74.12 HV.

Abstract: This study investigates the enhancement of solar still efficiency through the integration of a mini solar pond and reflective mirrors. Key variables affecting performance were identified: sodium chloride concentration, solar pond zone, and mirror angles. Four parameters were systematically varied across three levels and analyzed using an orthogonal array (L27). ​The optimal configuration was determined through Signal-to-Noise (S/N) ratio analysis, revealing that a concentration of 2.5 kg sodium chloride, a 75 cm solar pond zone, and specific mirror angles significantly improved distilled output. ​ It endeavors to uncover the significant factors contributing to the enhanced efficiency of the hybrid solar still-solar pond system and to establish the ideal configuration of parameters that improves distilled water generation capacity. Experimental results showcased a maximum daily water production of 3.25 liters with an efficiency of 53.26%. The research provides valuable insights for optimizing solar still performance in real-world applications, laying the groundwork for future advancements in solar desalination technologies.

Abstract: Sidoarjo mud contains 48.3% silica which is considered as the biggest impurity when compared to the content of rare earth metals which are 0.3% Eu and 0.02% Yb. The hydrothermal process is used to bind silica as a form of silica extraction activity in the Sidoarjo mud so that the Rare Earth Elements are purified further because their uses are urgently needed. This process compares the alkalis in the form of Na₂CO₃ and K₂CO₃ which are basic salts which will then be compared to the most optimum conditions of the two alkalis. Each alkali will be processed under operating conditions following the Taguchi method which aims to minimize research and optimize research results. Based on the research results, it was found that K₂CO₃ provided better silica recovery than Na₂CO₃ under operating conditions with a K₂CO₃ concentration of 2 M, 1 hour soaking time, 700°C melting temperature and 3 hours melting time, giving 95.24% silica recovery. In addition, by using the Taguchi method it can be analyzed that the main factors affecting the melting of the alkali are the melting time, the concentration of the alkali, the temperature of the melting, and the immersion time.

Abstract: Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is the most popular additive manufacturing technique for producing prototypes in which a semi-molten thermoplastic such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is extruded on a build plate in a layer wise manner from bottom to top. In FDM, the mechanical properties of a 3D-printed part are greatly affected by the build parameters such as the raster angle, extrusion temperature, layer thickness, and infill. With this, the objective of the present study is to characterize the effect of selected input build parameters on the compressive strength and impact resistance of the FDM-printed parts using orthogonal array, signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Using Taguchi’s method for the design of experiment (DOE), the optimal build parameter combinations and significant main effects were determined. Confirmation experiments were also carried out and were compared with the Taguchi-based predicted values. The experimental results are within the accepted 95% confidence interval suggesting that the optimization was successful at 5% confidence level.

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing parameters on the mechanical properties of 700 µm length carbon fiber-infused PLA composites with 10 µm diameter. Employing the Taguchi method with an L27 orthogonal array, variations in layer thickness, air gap, printing temperature, orientation, and nozzle material were explored. The results highlight layer height, nozzle material, and printing orientation as significant factors influencing the mechanical properties of 3D printed carbon PLA composites. The observed improvements, compared to pure PLA, reveal a substantial 10% and 55% enhancement in strength. Notably, TiC nozzle material outperforms steel and brass, attributed to its lower friction and higher flow ability, contributing to superior printability and enhanced bonding between layers, resulting in improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: Gear shaving is a vital part of gear tooth finishing during the pre-hardened condition. Taguchi method was used to design a technique on selecting optimum gear cutting parameters, and on setting a standard in process programming of MHI FEN30A 4-axis shaving machine, for shaving of SCM20H material helical gear using plunge pattern. The final cutting stock, final feed rate and spindle speed were selected as the shaving parameters. Many experiments were conducted using the L16 orthogonal array. S/N response table shows the optimum cutting parameter combinations for cutting load, cutting time, and crowning which are A4B1C1, A1B1C4, and A3B4C4 respectively. The final feed rate is the most significant cutting parameter for the optimization of cutting load, cutting time, and crowning, having ANOVA percentage contributions of 49.6%, 99.01%, and 92.45% respectively. Quadratic regression was used to model predictive equations and contour plots having R² values of 91.75%, 99.79%, and 91.81%. Predicted values from the quadratic regression model and estimated Taguchi optimum response were compared to the actual results using the optimum parameters for the validation of the experiment. All experimental results are within the 95% confidence of interval, and the percentage error between the experimental and predicted values are all below the acceptable 20%. Regression contour plots can be used for the selection of cutting parameters in process programming, given that the final feed rate is the priority for considering the cutter life, and secondly is the final depth of cut.

Abstract: UD. Pak Suandi is one of the UDs that produces and sells bricks. Many factors influence the quality of bricks, namely human resources, composition, and processing of raw materials. Brick making sometimes does not match the desired quality, there are often defects/cracks in the bricks. The method used in this research is the Taguchi method, where Taguchi is used to design efficient and effective experiments in identifying factors that influence brick quality, such as brick compressive strength, as well as to determine optimal settings of production parameters with the aim of maximizing brick quality. The results of this research show that the factors that have a significant influence are factors A (Clay) and D (Laban Tree Ash). The high SNR ANOVA value shows this. The optimal concentration settings are 1.40 kg of Clay, 45 ml of Water, 13 grams of Palm Ash and 14 grams of Laban Tree Ash. Where with the composition design, a compressive strength value of 9.73 MPa is obtained. The compressive strength obtained increased by 6.03 Mpa from the company's standard composition of 3.70 Mpa.