Design and
Materials Selection
Materials Selection
The Basics
Lecture 4
Dr. Muslim Muhsin
This Lecture sets out
the basic procedure
for selection,
establishing the link
between material and
function
Figure 1
Figure 2
The universe of materials is divided into
families, classes, subclasses, and
members; each member is characterized
by a set of attributes: its properties
Selection Strategies
Figure 3
Required features are constraints; they are
used to screen out unsuitable cars. The
survivors are ranked by cost of ownership
Choosing a Material
Figure 4
Design requirements are first expressed as constraints and
objectives. The constraints are used for screening. The survivors
are ranked by the objective, expressed as a material index.
Strategy for Materials Selection
The four main steps:
Translation
Screening
Ranking
Documentation
Figure 5
Translating Design Requirements
Figure 4
Material Indices
Constraints set property limits.
Objectives define material indices,
for which we seek extreme values.
Minimizing Mass:
A light, strong tie
Objective Function: equation
describing the quantity to be
maximized or minimized.
We can reduce the mass by reducing the
cross-section, but there is a constraint: A must
be sufficient to carry F*, requiring that:
Eliminating A between these two
equations gives:
Material indices are generally expressed so that a
maximum value is sought, so the material index
for a light, strong tie is:
Minimizing Mass
A light, stiff panel
Objective Function
Constraint on Stiffness
Second Moment of Area
Material index for a light, stiff panel
Material index with a constraint of
strength rather than stiffness
Minimizing Mass
A light, stiff beam
Objective Function
Constraint on Stiffness
Second Moment of Area
Material index for a light, stiff beam
Material index with a constraint of
strength rather than stiffness
Performance Equation
The performance of a structural element
is determined by three things: the
functional requirements, the geometry,
and the properties of the material of
which it is made.
Figure 7
The specification of function, objective,
and constraint leads to a materials index.
The combination in the highlighted boxes
leads to the index E1/2/ρ.
• An engineering component has: (boundary condition for Materials Selection)
1. Function: to carry load, transmit heat, contain a pressure, etc..
What does the component do?
2. Objectives: as cheap as possible, light, safe, strong, etc…
What is to be Maximized or Minimized?
3. Constraints: subject to constraints such as carry load without failure,
certain dimensions are fixed, cost is within limits etc…
What non-negotiable conditions are to be met? (Rigid)
What negotiable but desirable conditions? (Soft)
4. Free Variables: materials choice, cross-section area, thickness, and
length are free
Which design variables are free? (variables which can be changed)
Figure 8
A schematic E-ρ chart showing a lower
limit for E and an upper limit for ρ.
Ranking: Indices on Charts
Figure 9
A schematic E-ρ chart showing guide lines for the
three material indices for stiff, lightweight design.
Figure 10
A schematic E-ρ chart showing a grid of
lines for the material index M=E1/3/ρ.
Figure 11
A selection based on the index M=E1/3/ρ > 2(GPa)1/3 (Mg/m3)
together with the property limit E > 50 GPa. The materials
contained in the search region become the candidates for the
next stage of the selection process
Figure 12
Computer-aided selection using the CES software. The
schematic shows the three types of selection window.
They can be used in any order and any combination.
The selection engine isolates the subset of materials
that passes all the selection stages.
