journal article·2025-04-01Open access

Predictive modeling of the mechanical behavior of 3D-printed polylactic acid/wood composite: Comparison of GEP and ANN methods

Abhijit Bhowmik, Raman Kumar, Ranganathaswamy M. K., Y. Karun Kumar, Priyaranjan Samal, Abinash Mahapatro, Abdulaziz N. Alhazaa, Valentin Romanovski, A. Johnson Santhosh

AIP Advances· Volume 15· Issue 4

Abstract

This study introduces a novel approach for predicting the mechanical properties of 3D-printed polylactic acid wood composites using gene expression programming (GEP) and artificial neural networks (ANN) modeling methods. Addressing the challenge of determining optimal process parameters in fused deposition modeling of natural fiber composites, experiments were designed using Taguchi’s L27 orthogonal array. Five key parameters were analyzed: layer thickness (100–300 μm), printing speed (40–90 mm/s), raster angle (0°–90°), infill density (35%–95%), and nozzle temperature (200–220 °C). ANOVA results identified raster angle as the most influential factor, contributing 38.36% and 26% to tensile and compressive strengths, respectively. Subsequently, a comparative statistical analysis evaluated the predictive accuracy of GEP and ANN. The GEP model exhibited superior performance, achieving validation errors between 0.04% and 0.82%, outperforming ANN (0.34%–5.31%). These findings provide a robust framework for enhancing the mechanical performance of sustainable 3D-printed composites, enabling more efficient and reliable production processes in additive manufacturing.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies · Manufacturing Process and Optimization · Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Additive Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, SIMATS, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences 1 , Thandalam, Chennai 602105,

Centre for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University 2 , Rajpura 140401, Punjab,

University School of Mechanical Engineering, Rayat Bahra University 3 , Kharar, Punjab 140103,

Faculty of Engineering, Sohar University 4 , P.O. Box 44, Sohar PCI 311,

Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, JAIN (Deemed to be University) 5 , Bangalore, Karnataka,

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Raghu Engineering College 6 , Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 531162,

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation 7 , Vaddeswaram, Andhra Pradesh 522302,

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University) 8 , Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751030,

Research Chair for Tribology, Surface and Interface Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University 9 , Riyadh 11451,

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia 10 , Charlottesville, Virginia 22904,

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology 11 , Jimma University, Jimma,

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