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Assessment of Arc Welding Process Through the Combination of TOPSIS–AHP Methods with Fuzzy Logic

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Abstract

In this work we have shown that how combining the multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) process with fuzzy logic can be very efficient to solve decision problems in which there are criteria of different natures. This combination is applied here to solve a real decision problem of great interest in structural steel welding which is used widely in industry. The problem consists of selecting the best electric arc welding processes for a plate thickness greater than 12 mm. Because facing a decision problem of this type involves, on one hand, quantitative criteria (thermal efficiency, productivity, minimum power, etc.) and on the other hand, qualitative criteria (fatigue of welder, process learning, reliability, etc.), not only will it be necessary to apply a MCDM process, but it should also be combined with fuzzy logic with the aim of being able to perform the extraction of knowledge through a survey focused on experts. The Analytic Hierarchy Process has been used in order to obtain the weight of the criteria and, through the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution. The alternatives are also evaluated. There are no previous studies related to welding processes using the MCDM process with fuzzy logic.

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Abbreviations

A− :

Negative ideal value set

A+ :

Positive ideal value set

Ai :

Best alternative

AHP:

Analytic Hierarchy Process

aij, bij, cij :

Fuzzy number

Ci :

Criteria

CI:

Consistency index

cii :

Relative important of Ci–Ci

cij :

Relative important of Cj–Cj

CR:

Consistency ratio

Ek :

Number of experts

ELECTRE:

Elimination Et Choix Traduisant la Realité

F-PROMETHEE:

Fuzzy Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations

FCAW:

Flux cored arc welding

GMAW:

Gas metal active welding

GTAW:

Gas tungsten arc welding

λ max :

Maximum eigenvalue

m:

Amount of alternatives

MAG:

Metal active gas

MCDM:

Multi-criteria decision making

MIG:

Metal inert gas

n:

The size of the matrix C

NIS:

Negative ideal solution

PAW:

Plasma arc welding

PIS:

Positive ideal solution

PROMETHEE:

Preference ranking organization method of enrichement evaluations

RI:

Random index

Ri :

Ranking score

SAW:

Submerged arc welding

SMAW:

Shield metal arc welding

TOPSIS:

Technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution

W:

Weight vector associated with the criteria

wi :

The criterion Ci

wj :

The criterion Cj

xij :

Represent the performance score of alternative Ai against criteria Cj

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Universitario de la Defensa de San Javier (University Centre of Defence at the Spanish Air Force Academy), MDE-UPCT, C/Coronel López Peña s/n, Santiago de la Ribera, 30720, Murcia, Spain

    Juan M. Sánchez-Lozano

  2. Department of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, ETSII, Technical University of Madrid, C/José Gutiérrez Abascal st, 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    José L. Meseguer-Valdenebro & Antonio Portoles

  3. Inspection Department, Técnicas Reunidas, 2-4. Edificio Gorbea 5 – Pl. Baja., Quintanavides, 28050, Madrid, Spain

    José L. Meseguer-Valdenebro

Authors
  1. Juan M. Sánchez-Lozano
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  2. José L. Meseguer-Valdenebro
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  3. Antonio Portoles
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Correspondence to José L. Meseguer-Valdenebro.

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Sánchez-Lozano, J.M., Meseguer-Valdenebro, J.L. & Portoles, A. Assessment of Arc Welding Process Through the Combination of TOPSIS–AHP Methods with Fuzzy Logic. Trans Indian Inst Met 70, 935–946 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-016-0884-x

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