Material selection for sintered pulley in automobile: An integrated CRITIC-MARCOS model

Abstract

Material selection plays a pivotal role in engineering and design, profoundly influencing product performance, cost, and sustainability. Traditional approaches to material selection typically involve an intricate interplay of multiple criteria, encompassing mechanical properties, environmental impact, cost, and availability. To grapple with this complexity, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods have risen to prominence as systematic frameworks for facilitating well-informed material selection decisions. MCDM methods offer a structured approach to evaluating and ranking materials based on a set of criteria, thereby empowering engineers and designers to make informed choices. In this paper, Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking According to Compromise Solution (MARCOS) method has been employed to determine the most suitable material for sintered pulleys used in automobiles. CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method is applied to assign criteria weights. The analysis reveals that sintered hardened steel emerges as the best choice for sintered pulleys in automotive applications. To validate the outcomes obtained from the proposed method, a performance analysis has been conducted, comparing the results with those generated by other well-established MCDM methods. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis has been carried out using Spearman rank correlation coefficient.