Concurrent and geometry-dependent selection of material and joining technology — An initial utility-based systematic decision-making tool

Today, the requested multi-objective engineering design process is difficult and time-consuming when faced with the large number of available materials and its complex relations to design as well as manufacturing and joining processes. For this specific purpose, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods are seen as one of the key factors within the modern product development when designing cost-benefit optimized multi-material systems. However, this multi-criteria optimization process should not merely be considered on the basis of the design, materials and manufacturing processes of exclusively one single component, but tally far more closely with regard to systemic or rather cross-component aspects, and thus additionally covers such issues as the ever more relevant integrated choice of the right joining technology. Concerning this matter, the contribution presents an initial utility-based decision-making tool regarding a concurrent systematic and geometry-dependent material and joining technology selection to facilitate a real-world technological selection process in computer-based form taking all systemic dimensions and basic (technical, economic, ecological) assessment criteria into account.