Materials Selection for Mechanical Design

A novel materials-selection procedure has been implemented in a computer program. The procedure makes use of ‘Materials Selection Charts’: a new way of displaying material property data which enables the use of a number of novel optimisation procedures. These rely on developing ‘performance indices’: a combination of material properties which, if maximised, maximise performance. The charts are designed to present the materials, and the performance indices in such a way that an optimum selection becomes possible. Section shape can be included, allowing the optimum selection of both material and shape. The software is described and a case study is presented.