Title: Selection of natural fibre reinforced composites using fuzzy VIKOR for car front hood

Authors: Noordiana Mohd Ishak; Sivakumar Dhar Malingam; Muhd Ridzuan Mansor

Addresses: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100 Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia

Abstract: Weight reduction of transportation vehicles is an important method in improving fuel efficiency, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. One of the solutions is through the application of green materials as substitutes to conventional engineering materials. However, the selection of a suitable substitute material for the intended application often imposes great challenges due to the variety of alternative materials to choose from as well as the need to satisfy multiple and conflicting requirements from various stakeholders. Therefore, the aim of this study is to use fuzzy VIKOR, the multiple criteria decision making method, to identify the appropriate type of natural fibre for fibre reinforced composites to be applied on the fibre metal laminate for car front hood to achieve the transportation weight reduction. The result suggested that M3 (kenaf) has the best criteria. Kenaf has been selected as the best natural fibre as it satisfies two compromise solutions. It has a least VIKOR index value υ = 0.5. The results of the fuzzy VIKOR demonstrate the potential of natural fibre to be applied on the fibre metal laminate structure as a car front hood; this which could reduce vehicle weight and subsequently reduce the overall vehicle CO₂ gas emissions.

Keywords: materials selection; fibre metal laminate; FML; car front hood; natural fibre; fuzzy VIKOR; fibre reinforced composites; car bonnets; weight reduction; multicriteria decision making; MCDM; kenaf; fuel efficiency; energy consumption; greenhouse gases; GHG emissions; carbon emissions; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2016.079205

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2016 Vol.53 No.3/4, pp.267 - 285

Received: 27 Feb 2016
Accepted: 11 May 2016
Published online: 22 Sep 2016 *

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