Materials selection criteria weighting method using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with simplest questionnaire and modifying method of inconsistent pairwise comparison matrix

Abstract

The analytic hierarchy process has been widely used to determine subjective weights of materials selection criteria in materials selection using multi-criteria decision-making. However, the analytic hierarchy process has some drawbacks: it is difficult to construct a pairwise comparison matrix and meet the consistency requirement. First, we propose a new simplest questionnaire to perform the pairwise comparison without confusion, conventionally and easily. Next, we propose an improved modifying method for inconsistent pairwise comparison matrix according to the following principles: (1) the elements of the reconstructed pairwise comparison matrix should be nine-point scales, (2) the number and modifying the amount of the modified elements should be as small as possible and (3) the deviation between the original and reconstructed pairwise comparison matrixes should be as small as possible. The outline of the proposed modifying method is as follows: (1) calculate the consistency ration decrements of all the pairwise comparison matrixes reconstructed by modifying every element of the original pairwise comparison matrix to the lower and upper adjacent nine-point scales and (2) find the element with the maximum consistency ratio decrement and modify it to the lower or upper adjacent scale. To illustrate the effectiveness, we apply the proposed methods to determine the criteria weights for selecting the best phase change material used in a solar domestic hot water system, and apply the proposed modifying method to some examples from the published papers, and compare the performances with some previous methods. The simplest questionnaire and improved modifying method help materials designers and engineers to apply the analytic hierarchy process method in materials design and optimization problems, much more actively.

A New Material Selection Method Based on Weighted Mean Values of Overall Performance Scores from Different Multicriteria Decision-Making Methods

“…, p). e weights are commonly determined using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method or entropy weighting method [5,7,32].…”

“…Material selection is a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) problem that material designers and engineers have to select the optimal material to achieve good properties among two or more alternative materials based on two or more criteria. Many MCDM methods are applicable to the material selection [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”

“…ere are simple additive weighting (SAW) method, weighted product method (WPM), analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, analytic network process (ANP) method, technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method, gray relational analysis (GRA), VIse Kriterijumska Optimizacija Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method, preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluations (PROMETHEE), extended PROMETHEE (EXPROM) method, elimination and et choice translating reality (ELECTRE) method, complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) method, preference selection index (PSI) method, range of value method (ROVM), rank sum ratio (RSR) method, graph theory and matrix approach (GTMA), multi-objective optimization on the basis of ratio analysis (MOORA), quadrant constellation graph-based method, etc. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

Consistency Improvement Method of Pairwise Matrix Based on Consistency Ratio Decreasing Rate and Attribute Weighting Method Considered Decision Makers’ Levels in Analytic Hierarchy Process: Application to Hip Joint Prosthesis Material Selection

“…AHP has been widely applied to calculate the subjective attribute weights in many practical MADM and MOO problems [4,5]. Soni et al [6] determined the criteria weights using AHP for material selection of reinforced sustainable composites by recycling waste plastics and agrowaste.…”

“…One drawback is that it is difficult to conduct pairwise comparison in practical applications. Yang et al [5] proposed a simplest questionnaire to conduct the pairwise comparison, easily and conventionally. Another drawback is that it is difficult to satisfy the consistency of pairwise matrix (PM) in practical applications.…”