Optimization of physical instruments’ characteristics with topsis

Abstract

The present study focuses on the characteristics optimization of the physical instruments with the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The hypothesis in this research work was that the characteristics of spectrometers and rheometers could affect their rankings, which in turn could be influenced by the underestimation of their cost criterion. In this paper, the characteristics optimization of the FTIR spectrometers and rheometers was carried out with TOPSIS. Moreover, its modified algorithm was also used in order to analyze the inappropriate consideration of these instruments due to category confusion. The modification of TOPSIS helped obtain an automated decision-making method for the treatment of data. The results showed that the rankings of the FTIR spectrometers and rheometers were different as expected. Moreover, the rankings of the FTIR spectrometers were different with using the unmodified and modified TOPSIS; however, that of the rheometers did not change. The change in the ranking of the FTIR spectrometers was due to the application of the fuzzy disjunction in the TOPSIS code. In this case, the first and second candidates were placed in the first and second positions, respectively, whereas the second candidate had a better rank than the first one in the analysis with the unmodified TOPSIS code. The rank improvement of the first candidate in the category of FTIR spectrometers after the modification of the TOPSIS code was also observed. The results of this work can be used in mechanical engineering and materials science as the appropriate use of instruments in these fields depends on the consideration of their characteristics for which their optimization in comparison with those of other instruments could provide interesting results. Such investigations would provide complementary data for the experimental approaches in further applications.