Parametric analysis of a green electrical discharge machining process using DEMATEL and SIR methods

To achieve safer machining environment, and minimize emission of harmful and toxic substances during electrical discharge machining (EDM) process along with improvement in its performance, this paper emphasizes on identifying the best parametric combination of a green EDM process using superiority and inferiority ranking (SIR) method. Decision making trial and evaluation laboratory method is also employed to visualize the interrelationships between the responses of the said process while splitting them into cause and effect groups. In this process, peak current, pulse duration, dielectric level and flushing pressure are the input parameters, while process time, relative tool wear ratio, process energy, concentration of aerosol and dielectric consumption are considered as the responses. The optimal parametric combination as derived employing the SIR method is validated with the help of developed regression equations for each of the responses, which show that the adopted approach outperforms the other popular optimization techniques in obtaining the best mix of the green EDM process parameters for having improved machining performance and less hazardous effects on the environment.