Comparative analysis between TOPSIS and PSI methods of materials selection to achieve a desirable combination of strength and workability in Al/SiC composite

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with particles are of the most widely applied commercial materials. Among the numerous methods for AMCs production, the powder metallurgy is the most attractive technique since it gives good mechanical properties and is an inexpensive process. In the last decade, the Al-SiC composites have introduced most wide spread applications and hold the greatest promise for future growth. In present study, a comparison was carried out between technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and preference selection index (PSI) materials selection methods for determining a desirable combination of strength and workability in Al-SiC powder metallurgy composite. Selection of an Al-SiC composite with highest strength and workability is a MADM problem where some criteria must be considered in decision making among a set of available alternatives. Weights of each criterion were determined by using an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method in TOPSIS method. The obtained results represented that the PSI method could be successfully applied to select best alternative without assigning the relative importance between attributes and it could be appropriately replaced to general materials selection methods such as TOPSIS method. Empirical findings in this study showed that both TOPSIS and PSI methods led to the choice of Al-5% SiC composite with SiC particle size of 16 mu m and relative density of 90% milled for 12 h as the preferred alternative. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.