We performed a systematic experimental investigation of the effect of heat
treatment on the mechanical properties of 7175 aluminum alloy. The genetic
algorithm (GA) was used to search for the optimum technique for 7175 alumin
um alloy based on modeling with an artificial neural network (ANN). The res
ults strongly indicate that the artificial neural network and genetic algor
ithm combined offer a new and effective means for optiniizing material proc
essing techniques. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.