Journal of Chongqing University (English Edition) [ISSN 1671-8224]
Vol. 7 No. 3
September 2008
191
Article ID: 1671-8224(2008)03-0191-07
To cite this article: LUO Jun-jun, ZHENG Jun-jie, SUN Ling, ZHANG Shi-biao. An entropy-based multi-criterion group decision analysis method of selecting the optimum
weak-subgrade treatment [J]. J Chongqing Univ: Eng Ed [ISSN 1671-8224], 2008, 7(3): 191-197.
An entropy-based multi-criterion group decision analysis method of
selecting the optimum weak-subgrade treatment
∗
LUO Jun-jun
1,†
, ZHENG Jun-jie
1
, SUN Ling
1
, ZHANG Shi-biao
2
1
School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
2
Shiman Expressway Construction Headquarters of Hubei Province, Shiyan 442011, P. R. China
Received 24 December 2007; received in revised form 10 May 2008
Abstract: Proper treatment of weak subgrade soil is very important to building a highway of good quality. We proposed an
entropy-based multi-criterion group decision analysis method for a group of experts to evaluate alternatives of weak subgrade
treatment, with an aim to select the optimum technique which is technically, economically and socially viable. We used fuzzy
theory to analyze multiple experts’ evaluation on various factors of each alterative treatment. Different experts’ evaluations are
integrated by the group eigenvalue method. An entropy weight is introduced to minimize the negative influences of subjective
human factors of experts. The optimum alternative is identified with ideal point discriminant analysis to calculate the distance of
each alternative to the ideal point and prioritize all alternatives according to their distances. A case study on a section of the
Shiman Expressway verified that the proposed method can give a rational decision on the optimum method of weak subgrade
treatment.
Keywords: highway engineering; weak subgrade treatment; decision making; entropy weight; group eigenvalue method
CLC number: U416.1 Document code: A
1 Introduction
a
There are chances that parts of a highway have to be
built on weak subgrade soil. Weak subgrade soil has a
high compression ratio and poor consolidation stability,
and is liable to huge settlement. Weak subgrade
untreated or treated with inappropriate methods would
have serious impacts on pavements. This has been one
of the critical factors influencing the quality,
construction period and cost of many highways in P. R.
China. Therefore, selecting an optimal method which is
technically reliable, reasonable, economic, and safe, to
treat weak subgrade is of theoretical and practical
†
LUO Jun-jun(罗君君): ljj877@163.com.
∗
Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China ( No.
50478090) and the Key Plan of Science and Technology of Hubei
Provincial Communication Department (No. 2005jtkj361).
significance. Recently, some new methods have been
proposed to select alternatives of weak subgrade
treatment, such as the fuzzy set method [1-3], the
hierarchic analysis method [4-5], and the weak
subgrade treatment design intelligence system [6-7].
In the decision-making procedure of selecting weak
subgrade treatment methods for a highway project, a
few factors associated with the technological,
economic, and social aspects of the project should be
considered. These factors include the treatment effect,
construction period, operation complexity, technical
reliability, construction cost, maintenance, and
environmental factors. The multi-level multi-criterion
decision method has proven applicable to incorporating
the foregoing factors which can not be compared with
each other in selecting alternatives for weak subgrade
treatment [2-5]. Nevertheless, how to properly use
various experts’ subjective assessments of some
important influential factors not quantifiable remains a
question. Therefore, it is necessary to find a feasible