Materials selection method using TOPSIS with some popular normalization methods

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this paper is to propose the methods to select reasonable normalization method in TOPSIS and decide best optimal material combined with individual results from TOPSIS with some popular normalization methods. In this paper, to evaluate performance of normalization method, entropy-based and variation coefficient-based performance scores are introduced. To decide final result of materials selection combined with individual results from TOPSIS with different normalization methods, final rank index of alternative material is proposed. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods, TOPSIS with some popular normalization methods is applied to select optimal tribological coating material. As a result, it is desirable to select the normalization method with highest entropy-based and variation coefficient-based performance scores. In order to select best optimal material using TOPSIS with some popular normalization methods, the method to decide final result of materials selection is proposed by using final indices of alternative materials. The proposed methods may be widely used to solve the materials selection problems in engineering practice.