COMPARISON OF MULTI CRITERION DECISION MAKING APPROACHES (MCDM) ON PRODUCED FLY ASH BASED PELLETIZED GEOPOLYMER COARSE AGGREGATES INTEGRATED WITH IRON ORE TAILINGS

Abstract

This research paper explores the implementation of multi-criteria decision-making approaches (MCDM) in the produced fly ash (FA) based pelletized geopolymer coarse aggregates integrated with iron ore tailings (IOT). Despite the fact that many techniques are available to aid the decision-making process, the decision makers (here the authors) are forced to go through the laborious task of selecting the appropriate MCDM method. It is because of the fact that each approach/method results in the attainment of different outcomes when applied to such specific scenario (in this case, the produced FA-based aggregates integrated with IOT). This research paper assesses three varied MCDM approaches, that are grey relation analysis (GRA), technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and desirability function approach (DFA), for the sixteen mixes involved in the production of FA-based aggregates integrated with IOT. These sixteen mixes were designed by taking into consideration of four experimental parameters that were Na<inf>2</inf>O and water content dosages, blend proportion of IOT and FA and SiO<inf>2</inf>/Na<inf>2</inf>O ratio, with the aid of Taguchi’s experimental methodology. The characteristics of the produced FA-based aggregates like aggregate impact value, aggregate crushing value, individual crushing strength of aggregates and water absorption served as inputs in the implementation of MCDM approaches on the produced FA-based aggregates integrated with IOT. The concluding remarks obtained by the implemented MCDM approaches proved to be effective in understanding the order of influence of experimental parameters taken under consideration for producing FA-based aggregates and among all, GRA stood as a relatively better approach in comparison with the other two approaches. © 2023, Associated Cement Companies Ltd.. All rights reserved.