Particle swarm and simulated annealing based intuitive search optimization of flexural behaviors in bioparticles impregnated coir fiber–vinyl ester composites

The present investigation is focused on evaluation and optimization of flexural behaviors of bio‐particulates impregnated coir–vinyl ester composites. The bio‐particulates such as termite mound soil, groundnut and rice husk were selected and the composite fabrications were planned as per Design of Experiments with the different levels of fiber length, fiber content, and particulate content. The flexural strength of fabricated composites was evaluated as per ASTM D 790‐10. The fractography study was carried out on tested specimens using Scanning Electron Micrographs. The nonlinear regression models were developed for the prediction of flexural behaviors over the specified range of conditions. The fabrication parameters for the better value of flexural behaviors were determined using particle swarm and simulated annealing algorithms. The optimum conditions are further refined and validated experimentally using intuitive search algorithm. It was confirmed that the termite mound soil, ground nut and rice husk impregnated coir–vinyl ester composites exhibited better value of flexural strengths of 33.5 MPa, 36 MPa, and 38.4 MPa, respectively. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:1765–1774, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers