Cluster Analysis of Beer Flavor Components. I. Some New Methods in Cluster Analysis¹

1 Presented at the 48th Annual Meeting, Kansas City, MO, May, 1982.

Abstract

Cluster analysis has achieved growing recognition as a useful tool in the analysis of large sets of multivariable chemical data. A new family of clustering algorithms is discussed that appear to offer several advantages over more traditional approaches. These algorithms are based upon the concept of permitting data samples to possess partial membership in different clusters, thus defining a so-called “fuzzy” partition of the data. By exploiting the fuzzy-set interpretation of the algorithms, researchers can gain valuable insight into the structure of the data.

• Adaptive fuzzy c-varieties
• Fuzzy clustering algorithms
• Linear clusters
• Objective functional category
• Partial membership
• Round clusters