Accelerating the design and discovery of tribocorrosion-resistant metals by interfacing multiphysics modeling with machine learning and genetic algorithms

Abstract Lightweight aluminum alloy is one of the widely used structural materials for various industries due to its low density, high strength-to-weight ratio, good corrosion resistance, and excellent recyclability. However, complex service conditions often result in material degradation due to sim...

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Main Authors: Yucong Gu, Kaiwen Wang, Zhengyu Zhang, Yi Yao, Ziming Xin, Wenjun Cai, Lin Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:npj Materials Degradation
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-024-00549-4
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author Yucong Gu
Kaiwen Wang
Zhengyu Zhang
Yi Yao
Ziming Xin
Wenjun Cai
Lin Li
author_facet Yucong Gu
Kaiwen Wang
Zhengyu Zhang
Yi Yao
Ziming Xin
Wenjun Cai
Lin Li
author_sort Yucong Gu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Lightweight aluminum alloy is one of the widely used structural materials for various industries due to its low density, high strength-to-weight ratio, good corrosion resistance, and excellent recyclability. However, complex service conditions often result in material degradation due to simultaneous mechanical and corrosion attacks on the metal surfaces, such as tribocorrosion. This phenomenon represents a complex multiphysics challenge, wherein the tribocorrosion-induced material loss emerges as a function of varied environmental, mechanical, and electrochemical descriptors, each entailing distinct yet interlinked physical processes. The pursuit of simultaneous optimization across multiple material properties to enhance the overall tribocorrosion resistance is hampered by the inherent trade-offs between wear and corrosion resistance. Addressing this complexity, our study develops a novel methodology fusing machine-learning (ML) and genetic algorithm (GA)-based optimization techniques to tailor aluminum-based alloys for enhanced tribocorrosion resistance. Leveraging an experimentally validated multiphysics finite element analysis (FEA) model, we have used six key material parameters to model the tribocorrosion performance of Al alloys over a large property space. The ML model employs an ensemble method of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict the tribocorroded surface profile and total material loss based on FEA simulation results, significantly reducing computational time compared to conventional FEA methods. Crucially, our high-throughput screening pinpoints corrosion current density and yield strength as two pivotal parameters influencing tribocorrosion behavior. Harnessing GA optimization alongside the ML model, we efficiently identify a suite of optimal material properties—encompassing both mechanical and electrochemical aspects—for aluminum alloys, resulting in superior tribocorrosion resistance. This selection is substantiated through validation against high-fidelity FEA simulation results. This data-driven framework holds promise for tailoring tribocorrosion-resistant materials beyond aluminum alloys, adaptable to a wide range of metals and service environments.
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spelling doaj-art-09aa0ddd95ab418aa256c2a78279d43a2025-01-26T12:45:56ZengNature Portfolionpj Materials Degradation2397-21062025-01-019111510.1038/s41529-024-00549-4Accelerating the design and discovery of tribocorrosion-resistant metals by interfacing multiphysics modeling with machine learning and genetic algorithmsYucong Gu0Kaiwen Wang1Zhengyu Zhang2Yi Yao3Ziming Xin4Wenjun Cai5Lin Li6School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State UniversityDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversitySchool for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State UniversityDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversitySchool for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State UniversityAbstract Lightweight aluminum alloy is one of the widely used structural materials for various industries due to its low density, high strength-to-weight ratio, good corrosion resistance, and excellent recyclability. However, complex service conditions often result in material degradation due to simultaneous mechanical and corrosion attacks on the metal surfaces, such as tribocorrosion. This phenomenon represents a complex multiphysics challenge, wherein the tribocorrosion-induced material loss emerges as a function of varied environmental, mechanical, and electrochemical descriptors, each entailing distinct yet interlinked physical processes. The pursuit of simultaneous optimization across multiple material properties to enhance the overall tribocorrosion resistance is hampered by the inherent trade-offs between wear and corrosion resistance. Addressing this complexity, our study develops a novel methodology fusing machine-learning (ML) and genetic algorithm (GA)-based optimization techniques to tailor aluminum-based alloys for enhanced tribocorrosion resistance. Leveraging an experimentally validated multiphysics finite element analysis (FEA) model, we have used six key material parameters to model the tribocorrosion performance of Al alloys over a large property space. The ML model employs an ensemble method of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict the tribocorroded surface profile and total material loss based on FEA simulation results, significantly reducing computational time compared to conventional FEA methods. Crucially, our high-throughput screening pinpoints corrosion current density and yield strength as two pivotal parameters influencing tribocorrosion behavior. Harnessing GA optimization alongside the ML model, we efficiently identify a suite of optimal material properties—encompassing both mechanical and electrochemical aspects—for aluminum alloys, resulting in superior tribocorrosion resistance. This selection is substantiated through validation against high-fidelity FEA simulation results. This data-driven framework holds promise for tailoring tribocorrosion-resistant materials beyond aluminum alloys, adaptable to a wide range of metals and service environments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-024-00549-4
spellingShingle Yucong Gu
Kaiwen Wang
Zhengyu Zhang
Yi Yao
Ziming Xin
Wenjun Cai
Lin Li
Accelerating the design and discovery of tribocorrosion-resistant metals by interfacing multiphysics modeling with machine learning and genetic algorithms
npj Materials Degradation
title Accelerating the design and discovery of tribocorrosion-resistant metals by interfacing multiphysics modeling with machine learning and genetic algorithms
title_full Accelerating the design and discovery of tribocorrosion-resistant metals by interfacing multiphysics modeling with machine learning and genetic algorithms
title_fullStr Accelerating the design and discovery of tribocorrosion-resistant metals by interfacing multiphysics modeling with machine learning and genetic algorithms
title_full_unstemmed Accelerating the design and discovery of tribocorrosion-resistant metals by interfacing multiphysics modeling with machine learning and genetic algorithms
title_short Accelerating the design and discovery of tribocorrosion-resistant metals by interfacing multiphysics modeling with machine learning and genetic algorithms
title_sort accelerating the design and discovery of tribocorrosion resistant metals by interfacing multiphysics modeling with machine learning and genetic algorithms
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-024-00549-4
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