A Fuzzy Logic-Based Cost Modelling System for Recycling Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composites

Essam Shehab; Arshyn Meiirbekov; Akniyet Amantayeva; Aidar Suleimen; Serik Tokbolat; Shoaib Sarfraz; Md Hazrat Ali

doi:10.3390/polym13244370

Polymers (Dec 2021)

A Fuzzy Logic-Based Cost Modelling System for Recycling Carbon Fibre Reinforced Composites

Essam Shehab,
Arshyn Meiirbekov,
Akniyet Amantayeva,
Aidar Suleimen,
Serik Tokbolat,
Shoaib Sarfraz,
Md Hazrat Ali

Affiliations

Essam Shehab: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Arshyn Meiirbekov: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Akniyet Amantayeva: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Aidar Suleimen: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
Serik Tokbolat: School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
Shoaib Sarfraz: Design, Manufacturing and Production Engineering Section, Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
Md Hazrat Ali: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13244370
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 24
p. 4370

Abstract

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Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) are commonly used materials in manufacturing components and products in the automotive, aerospace, and wind energy industries generating thousands of tons of waste, thus creating a threat to the environment if not recycled. Therefore, it is important for both academia and industry to investigate various ways of recycling this material. However, there is an urgent need for a reliable cost predication system to assist in making informed decisions, planning sustainable treatment, and developing pricing strategies for different waste treatment scenarios. This research paper presents the development of a fuzzy logic-based system to perform cost estimation of recycling processes of the CFRP. The developed system has taken into consideration uncertainties such as the characteristics of End of Life (EoL) material including its size and weight, its origin and diversity of existing recycling methods, and quantity of recycling waste. Cost drivers were divided into categories such as dismantling, transportation, operation, and capital cost. The system was developed by creating 243 fuzzy rules and three levels of fuzzy sets. Moreover, an interactive user-friendly interface was developed to enable the user to use the system easily and efficiently. Finally, case study results were examined to compare the whole life recycling cost of four different recycling technologies in various scenarios of waste treatment. The developed fuzzy logic-based system has the capability in evaluating the cost structure of CFRP recycling techniques and take into consideration uncertainty factors. Hence, a major contribution of the developed system is its provision of the heuristic rules that aid the decision-making process for selecting a cost-effective recycling method. The visualisation facility of the developed system is also a useful tool in enabling potential users to forecast the cost of the CFRP recycling techniques upfront.

Published in Polymers

ISSN: 2073-4360 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers/

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