Role of Mesoscale Wire Mesh in Abaca–Pineapple–Epoxy Composites for Improved Mechanical Properties—An Experimental Study With ANN Prediction

ABSTRACT This study examines how microscaled wire mesh reinforcement affects the mechanical performance of abaca–pineapple–epoxy composites. The composite structure incorporates four types of microsized wire meshes: stainless steel (SSWM), mild steel (MSWM), aluminium (AWM), and plastic (PWM). These were evaluated for their influence on tensile, flexural, impact, interlaminar shear, and fracture properties. Composites were fabricated using the hand layup method followed by hot pressing. Notably, the composites reinforced with MSWM demonstrated significantly better mechanical performance compared to the unreinforced abaca‐pineapple (PA) composite, with improvements of 34% in tensile strength, 38% in flexural strength, and 46% in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). Furthermore, the fracture toughness increased by 78%, the impact strength rose by 72%, and hardness increased by 42%, underscoring the effectiveness of mild steel reinforcement.A machine learning‐based artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed to predict tensile strength and elastic modulus, achieving accuracy rates of 85% and 93%, respectively, for the MSWM composite. The ANN model demonstrated strong alignment between predicted and experimental results, affirming its capability to model complex behavior in hybrid composites. From the SEM analysis, it was observed that there is strong adhesion between MSWM and the matrix. These findings indicate that MSWM‐reinforced NF composites offer promising potential for structural applications in automotive, packaging, and construction industries.