A STUDY ON

APPLICATION OF
TAGUCHI METHOD IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
GUIDE
Dr. S. Praveen Kumar
Assistant Professor BATCH MEMBERS
Department of Civil Engineering S AKSHAY ADITHYA (18C102)
S PRAGADESHWARAN (18C218)
M RAGUL ADITHYA (18C221)
S RAGUL KARTHICK (18C222)
T VIGNESHWAR (18C231)
 INTRODUCTION:

Taguchi’s method is a statistical method, done using orthogonal arrays, and is a widely accepted
method of optimization. This paper seeks to present the versatility of this method in providing an
end to end optimization solution in the civil engineering field. This paper discusses the method,
working and limitations of this method, along with its application in the field of Civil Engineering.
The paper discusses Taguchi method in quality control and cost optimization, optimization of
construction materials, performance analysis of structures and how it could be use to assess
service quality and customer satisfaction. A case study on the use of Taguchi method to analyse the
effect of steel and polypropylene fibers on the strength of concrete has also been studied and
presented.
 DESIGN OF EXPERIMENT:
1) Selection of independent variables
2) Selection of number of level settings for each independent variable
3) Selection of orthogonal array
4) Assigning the independent variables to each column
5) Conducting the experiments
6) Analyzing the data
LIMITATIONS:
• Results obtained are only relative and do not exactly indicate what parameter has the highest effect on the performance
characteristic value.
• Also, since orthogonal arrays do not test all variable combinations, this method should not be used with all relationships
between all variables are needed.
• The Taguchi method has been criticized in the literature for difficulty in accounting for interactions between parameters.
• The traditional graphical S/N method often requires manual Excel-based evaluation.
• The S/N ratio graphical analysis method lacks a statically robust method for separating signal from noise in the equipment.
QUALITY CONTROL & COST OPTIMIZATION
Taguchi basic philosophy has three concepts:

• Design quality into the product.

• Achieve quality by minimizing deviation from the target.
• Measure the cost of quality as a function of deviation from the
standard (Taguchi loss function).
Quality control
• Taguchi’s Robust Design Method.

• Robust design is an engineering methodology for improving

productivity during research and development so that high-quality
products can be produced quickly and at low cost.

• To achieve desirable product quality by design, Taguchi suggests a

three-stage process:
 system design,
 parameter design, and
 tolerance design.
Cost optimisation:

• To produce quality goods at low cost.

• The Taguchi method can reduce research and development
costs by improving the efficiency of generating information
needed to generate products.

• Quality is not compromised.

 Case study : optimisation of building paint procurement process

• The experimental results were based on data collected from experienced building contractors and
painting experts.

• After a detail analysis of collected data, the values of impact and response parameters of painting
procurement process were decided. The prime focus is to find the optimal set of parameters for paint
procurement process.
Input parameters:

Analysis of data:
Output:
• Table 5 and 6 shows the Taguchi analysis response for S/N ratios of
external and internal paints respectively.

• The analysis shows that parameter ‘durable life’ in years is most

significant for external and internal painting as rank is first, and then
followed by coverage, labour cost per sqft and price.

• From obtained initial analysis of the data, the graphical analysis of SNR
was done based on the graphs by Minitab for various parameters.

• Figures 3 and 4 show the plots of S/N ratios of various parameters for
external & internal paint. The S/N ratios graph states the steep slope in
durable life per year when compared to price, coverage and labour cost
per sqft.
TAGUCHI IN OPTIMIZATION
OF CONSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS
 TAGUCHI IN OPTIMIZATION OF
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Orthogonal Arrays – to study the effect of several control factors.

This method is a type of experiment where the columns for the independent
variables are orthogonal to another.

This method is used to produce the best parameters for the optimum design
process, with the least number of experiments.
 CASE STUDY - TILE LAYING PROCESS
PARAMETERS USING TAGUCHI METHOD

• The failures could happen between the tile layers or between mortar bed and
underlaying substrate.
• It is important to know the optimum parameters to ensure the strength of thinset
mortar.
• Wrong parameters will cause unwanted result such as crack and bubble trap. Hence,
it is important to control these parameters.
• For these parameters optimization, Design of Experiments (DOE) and Taguchi
method is used.
 Configuration of parameters
Factors Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Force  6N 15N 30N
Thickness 2mm 4mm 6mm
Shape  Square - shape U -shape V- shape
RPM 1500 2000 2500

 • L9 Orthogonal array is used.

• no. of experiments to be carried out is n(k-1) =3(4-1) =9. Therefore, 9 trials are to be made.
• The S/N ratio measure the level of performance as it is affected by noise factors. Higher performance implies a higher S/N ratio and a lower
loss function value. There are three standard types of S/N ratio which are
• 1. Smaller-the-better

• 2. Nominal-the-better:

• 3. Larger-the-better:
 Taguchi Analysis
Experiment Force (N) Thickness (mm) Shape of RPM Max Load SNRA
Ribs
1 6 2 Square 1500 10.623 20.5249

2 6 4 U 2000 13.764 22.7749

3 6 6 V 2500 13.208 22.4167

4 15 2 U 2500 12.941 22.2394

5 15 4 V 1500 15.940 24.0498

6 15 6 Square 2000 15.562 23.8413

7 30 2 V 2000 14.677 23.3327

8 30 4 Square 2500 18.547 25.3655

9 30 6 U 1500 8.439 18.5258

• The above table shows the result of experiment number 8 with the highest shear force value of 18.547kN.
• The optimal mix parameters corresponds to
force =30 N,
Thickness = 4 mm,
Shape – square shape,
RPM = 1500
• By using this we can optimize different types of concrete, bricks etc..
TAGUCHI IN ANALYSIS OF
STRUCTURES
 Taguchi analysis is used in analyzing structures because of its twofold
application illustrated through a case study.

Reducing the number of Prediction and contribution of

experiments
• In the current study, three factors at three levels
• Full-factorial design
• 3 × 3 = 27 runs - 27 Steel boxes
• Taguchi design
• 9 Combinations-9 steel boxes
Saves 66.66 %
parameters
• Analysis of multiple factors simultaneously
rather than one factor at time approach
• It is also possible to separate out the effect of
each beam parameter on the response at
different levels
• able to predict the exact beam with desired
property
 TAGUCHI FOR QUALITY
ASSESSMENT AND
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
Likert Scale: (SERVPERF)
Calculating average
Variability using S/ N ratio:
Resultant S/ N ratio
Case Study
 Taguchi analysis- 1

Input : steel and polypropylene fibre percentage

Output parameters :
• Compression strength
• Split tensile strength
• Flexural strength
• Rigidity modulus
 Steel polypropylene CS STS FS rigidity SNRA
modulus
0.00 0.00 60.31 3.12 6.86 37.00 16.0198
0.00 0.15 64.23 3.26 7.72 38.46 16.5036
0.00 0.30 64.67 3.40 7.82 41.62 16.8298
0.00 0.45 65.69 3.67 7.89 41.66 17.3894
0.25 0.00 65.69 3.47 7.72 42.28 16.9561
0.75 0.00 69.17 4.58 9.27 46.73 19.1649
0.85 0.15 74.55 5.34 10.12 47.57 20.3090
0.55 0.45 69.32 4.23 9.16 42.69 18.6079

RESULT :
The optimal design to achieve maximum compressive strength , split tensile strength,
flexural strength, rigidity modulus is 0.85% of steel fibre and 0.15% of polypropylene
fibre.
• When slump value is taken with compressive strength , split tensile strength, flexural strength and
rigidity modulus the strength factors tend to overshadow the slump parameter and hence same
optimal design as un Taguchi analysis-1 is obtained.
• In order to bring in the effect of slump, only slump and compression strength are taken in
Taguchi analysis-2.
 Taguchi analysis -2

Input : steel and polypropylene fibre percentage

Output :
• Compression strength
• Slump value
Result :
  The optimal design to achieve maximum compressive strength , and slump
value is 0% of steel fibre and 0.15% of polypropylene fibre.
 CONCLUSION

The study has thus shown the versatility of the Taguchi method.
Further applications for the method may include the integration of Taguchi method with
various approaches, including fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, economics,
etc. In a volatile and fiercely competitive global market, the practice of the trial-and-error
approach which relies heavily on the experience of the moulding personnel is no longer
sufficient to meet the challenges of globalization especially at the point where the
disadvantages outweigh its advantages.
Arguments against the method say that in Taguchi's arrays, interactions are confounded and
difficult to resolve. Interactions are part of the real world. It is safe to say though, that the
method has had its share of the acid test, and can be used as a standard optimization approach,
until methods that are more accurate, efficient and quicker become mainstream.