Improving Support Vector Regression for Predicting Mechanical Properties in Low-Alloy Steel and Comparative Analysis

Low-alloy steel is widely employed in the aviation industry for its exceptional mechanical properties. These materials are frequently used in critical structural components such as aircraft landing gear and engine mounts, where a high strength-to-weight ratio is crucial for optimal performance. However, the mechanical properties of low-alloy steel are influenced by various components and their compositions, making identification and prediction challenging. Accurately predicting these mechanical properties can significantly reduce the development time of new alloy steel, lower production costs, and offer valuable insights for design analysis. support vector regression (SVR) is known for its superior learning and generalization capabilities. However, optimizing SVR performance can be challenging due to the significant impact of the penalty factor and kernel parameters. To address this issue, a hybrid method called SMA-SVR is proposed, which combines the Slime Mould Algorithm (SMA) with SVR. This hybrid approach aims to efficiently and accurately predict two crucial mechanical parameters of low-alloy steel: tensile strength and 0.2% proof stress. Detailed descriptions of the modeling processes and principles that are involved in the hybrid method are provided. Furthermore, three other popular hybrid models for comparison are introduced. To evaluate the performance of these models, four statistical measures are utilized: Mean Absolute Error, Root Mean Square Error, R-Squared, and computational time. Using data from the NIMS database and from material tests conducted on a universal testing machine, experiments were carried out to compare the performance of these models. The results indicate that SMA-SVR outperforms the other methods in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency.