An integrated approach in selecting the optimal insulation plaster mortar series

In this study, an integrated approach by Taguchi, Analytic Hierarchy Process [AHP] and Simple Additive Weighting [SAW] method was proposed to find out the optimal insulation plaster mortar series, based on multiple criteria. Firstly, Taguchi method was applied to define the experimental design plan, with the factors of cement, lime, dolomite and perlite in three levels for each with L9 orthogonal design. Then, ultrasonic pulse velocity, compressive strength, bond strength, capillarity water absorption and thermal conductivity experiments, were made according to the design. The importance weights of criteria were obtained by AHP and the scores of the series were calculated by SAW method. The factors’ optimum levels were obtained based on the scores and the optimal series was proposed.