Determining the appropriate natural fibers for intelligent green wearable devices made from biomaterials via multi-attribute decision making model

Faris M Al-Oqla; Mohammed T Hayajneh; Y A El-Shekeil; H A Refaey; Samir Bendoukha; Nabil Barhoumi

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24516

Determining the appropriate natural fibers for intelligent green wearable devices made from biomaterials via multi-attribute decision making model

Heliyon. 2024 Jan 11;10(2):e24516. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24516. eCollection 2024 Jan 30.

Authors

Faris M Al-Oqla¹, Mohammed T Hayajneh², Y A El-Shekeil³, H A Refaey^{3

4}, Samir Bendoukha⁵, Nabil Barhoumi^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The Hashemite University, P.O box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan.
² Industrial Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering at Yanbu, Taibah University, Yanbu Al-Bahr 41911, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at Shoubra, Benha University, 11629 Cairo, Egypt.
⁵ Electrical Engineering Department, College of Engineering at Yanbu, Taibah University, Yanbu Al-Bahr 41911, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ National Engineering School of Monastir, University of Monastir, LAS2E, Monastir 5019, Tunisia.

Abstract

Intelligent and green wearable technology becomes essential for new modern societies. This work introduces a multi criteria decision making model to properly assess and compare relative desired criteria for selecting the most suitable constituents for green body wearable bio-products made from bio-based materials. It aims to enhance the sustainability of intelligent green wearable devices by providing support in the selection process of lightweight, eco-friendly materials suitable for personal body wearable bio-products made of natural fiber composites to improve qualities that may help in better monitoring human vital signs and thereby address the health care concern. The relative intrinsic characteristic and merits of various natural fibers were utilized to compare and evaluate their relative performance in bio-composites. The model considered several evaluation factors like mechanical performance including tensile strength and modulus of elasticity, comfortability including size and weight, availability, fiber orientation, cellulose content, and cost. Results have demonstrated different priorities of the considered natural fibers relative to each evaluation factor. However, the model was capable of properly evaluating and ranking the best fibers relative to the whole conflicting evaluation criteria simultaneously. The closeness of priorities in several cases emphasizes upon using such decision making models to be able to judge the relative merits of natural fibers for such applications. It can also help designers to avoid bias during determining the best alternatives considering several conflicting evaluation criteria.

Keywords: Bio-products; Decision making; Health care; Natural fibers; Smart materials; Wearable devices.