Author(s): NE Nwankwo, CN Nwambu, CC Emekwisia, FO Osakwe, OJ Chukwu and CI Nwoye

Abstract: Response of hazelnut shell –polystyrene composite (HPC) flexural strength to input concentration ratio of the constituent materials was evaluated, using a derived empirical model; ʄ = - Ϧ(ɤf /ɤm)N + ẞ(ɤf /ɤm) + Ǿ. Validity of the derived model was rooted in the core model structure; ʄ + Ϧ(ɤf /ɤm)N ≈ Ǿ + ẞ(ɤf /ɤm), in that both sides of the structure are correspondingly near equal. The predicted results are by the trend and spread of results distribution, shown in previous research. Model-predicted results have shown evaluated correlations between the HPC flexural strength and input concentration ratio of hazelnut shell & polystyrene as 1.0. For each value of the highlighted filler: matrix ratio, the standard error incurred in predicting the HPC flexural strength, relative to the experimental results is less than 0.5%. This translates to over 99% model confidence level. The HPC flexural strength per unit input concentration ratio of hazel shell & polystyrene were 10.9955 and 9.5808 MPa, using experimental and model-predicted results. The overall maximum deviation of the model-predicted HPC flexural strength from experimental results was 4%. The derived model will predict the HPC flexural strength, within the experimental results range, on substituting into the model, values of the input concentration ratio of hazelnut shell & polystyrene, providing the boundary conditions are considered.

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