Artificial Neural Networks for Producing a Low-Cost Austempered Ductile Iron

Two artificial neural networks (ANNs) were developed for producing an austempered ductile iron (ADI) with low-cost chemical composition and mechanical properties as per ASTMA897/897M-16-grade-1050/750/07 standard. Thus, the first ANN predicted the chemical composition range within the lowest cost and required mechanical properties. Next, in the second ANN, the resulting values from the first ANN were refined considering the target chemical composition suggested in the standard. Moreover, mechanical properties and microstructural analyses were undertaken in the ADI produced to support the ANNs' findings. Hence, ANNs can be used to make a standard-compliant ADI and achieve cost savings.